It is a healthy debate
In early August, the Washington-based National League of Cities commended President Obama and members of Congress for pursuing health care reform, saying cities and towns spend more than $87 billion each year for health care benefits for their employees, retirees and their families.
American City & County asked the readers of its weekly e-mail newsletter if they think the health care legislation now under consideration would benefit cities and counties. Below are some of the responses.
"Federally driven health care reform could have a positive impact in that local hospitals would have less concern for bad debt and charity care while strengthening their fiscal bottom line. And, overall community wellness and prevention would be fostered by consistent, better quality care and disease prevention, which would result in lower Medicaid rolls and clientele. With the most expensive health care in the world, [and] having 45 million uninsured (read that as people being in acute care crisis), this country cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the unmet needs.
— Jay Gsell, Genesee County, N.Y., county manager
"I [do not] think that most people and elected officials have really looked at the long-term effects of this legislation. Government by crisis (real or manufactured), particularly with the bailout of our financial system and now our health care system, is ill advised. I am beginning to wonder about the competency of the current batch of elected officials in Washington."
— Dave O'Connor, engineer, Broward County, Fla.
