Hensarling listens to local doctors' concerns

Beth Foley

Jul. 1, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- PALESTINE -- As House and Senate Democrats push for massive healthcare reform in Washington, D.C., U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Dallas, says he plans to follow doctors' advice.

Hensarling spent an hour listening to the concerns, opinions and observations of several Palestine physicians Tuesday afternoon in the cafeteria at Palestine Regional Medical Center. It was one of four such visits the Congressman made around his district Tuesday.

"I'm trying to have meetings with doctors all across East Texas," Hensarling said at the meeting's conclusion. "I think, as a member of Congress, it's important that I hear from their perspective.

"Most people like the quality of their healthcare. It's the affordability, it's the portability. Physicians are on the front lines of this battle so I think their perspective is critical."

At PRMC, a group of doctors and hospital officials including Dr. Charles V. Bennett, Dr. Robert Blackwell, radiologist Ray Brunson, Dr. J. Don Jackson, Dr. Jerry Newton, Dr. David Thompson, Dr. Joseph Tretta, hospital CEO Tim Flusche, chief nursing officer Shelley Tobey, chief financial officer Louis Ferguson and marketing director Lynn Scribner met with Hensarling.

Issues they raised included the rising numbers of physicians leaving medicine and encouraging their children not to enter the field; a healthcare system that overly burdens physicians with unfunded government mandates; underinsured or non-insured patients using emergency room doctors as primary care physicians; misrepresentation in Washington by medical organizations; a healthcare reform bill that will be a quick fix rather than an appropriate fix; and doctors feeling like they're under siege by a bureaucracy that decides how much doctors will be reimbursed for treatment through insurance and Medicare.

Members of Congress often hear from patients in their districts who are concerned about healthcare issues but less often from those practicing medicine, he said. Before voting on healthcare reform, Hensarling said he wants to hear what they experience on a daily basis.

"I think that what you hear today, they're very concerned about a government-run plan that would dictate to them how they practice medicine, and ultimately, prevent their patients from getting quality care and timely care," Hensarling said.

"I didn't realize how big the indigent medicine issue was," he said. "I continue to hear lots of stories about how our emergency rooms are really kind of getting abused in our system. There's got to be a better system for the indigent to receive healthcare rather than going to our emergency rooms."

Local obstetrician Dr. Robert Blackwell said he appreciated Hensarling taking the time to meet doctors in Palestine and listen to their concerns.

"I think it shows his genuine interest to try to do what's right and not just to put a Band-Aid on it," Blackwell said. "He's trying to do what's right. I think he's going to the horse's mouth to do it. I really appreciated it."

Understanding exactly what Congressional Democrats want to do with healthcare reform isn't easy, he said.

"I don't know that I have a clear picture of what they want to do and that's even more disturbing," Blackwell said. "That's why I appreciate someone like him coming down, trying to find out some more information. I'm not sure he knows what they're going to do. But I think until we get an exact picture of what they want to do, we really can't say."

Blackwell said he'd like to see a more level playing field for medical professionals, including less government involvement, more tort reform and better working relations with insurance.

"I'd like to see that these government mandates handed down about seeing patients are somehow reimbursed or some kind of tax exemptions so that you're not just eating it," he said. "I'd like to see the insurance companies help us take care of patients better. I think insurance companies are not totally without fault even though I'm for private insurance."

Seeing a member of Congress seek out the opinions of East Texas physicians and hospital officials was encouraging, PRMC chief executive officer Tim Flusche said.

"I've been here seven years now and that's the first time we've had a Congressman come here and visit," Flusche said. "I find that very encouraging that he's actually reaching out and asking for input."

Something does need to be done, Flusche said.

"Some type of reform is needed. The question is, how much and how soon and how much is it going to cost?" he said. "We get a horrendous amount of bad debt here in the emergency room. If this helps hospitals with that component, then that's a good thing. But I am concerned about the loss of physicians dropping out of the system."

Hensarling said that while he could anticipate some of East Texas' physicians' concerns, others that were voiced have opened the Congressman's eyes to other issues.

"Some of it I expected, some of it was more dramatic, but it will help guide me," he said. "I just want to make sure that in East Texas people get the healthcare they need, when they need it, and at a price they can afford. That's my goal right there.

"They need it, when they need it, at a price they can afford and at a doctor they choose."

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Beth Foley may be contacted via e-mail at bfoley@palestineherald.com

Newstex ID: KRTB-0337-36164890