Residents of northern West Virginia, like most of our fellow Americans, are interested in health care reform. But as U.S. Rep. Alan Mollohan learned Friday evening, many of his constituents do not consider the current health care bill in Congress to be true reform.
Mollohan, who represents this area of our state, held a "town hall meeting" Friday at Wheeling Jesuit University. Health care reform was the topic, and Mollohan got more than an earful from those in attendance. We trust that when he returns to Washington, he will represent the interests of those who have concerns about the current proposal.
Those concerns are not knee-jerk, uninformed reactions to the bill - contrary to what the liberal community claims. Objections addressed to Mollohan came from people who have read legislative language that worries them. They came from people whose experience with government gives them little confidence that a virtual federal takeover of the health care system will work for us.
Not all of those at the meeting were critical of the proposal. They believe some reforms are needed in order to ensure that Americans who lack health insurance have access to acceptable care for illnesses and injuries. We believe most critics of the current proposal agree with that goal.
An important distinction needs to be made, however. It is between the goal and the mechanism being suggested to achieve it.
Critics of the proposal worry that the so-called "public option," a gigantic new government health insurance program, will not be effective. They are concerned that it will result in higher costs and less health care quality for many Americans. In effect, they fear that hundreds of millions of us will pay dearly, both financially and through lower quality health care, to provide insurance for others.
In addition, specifics in the current proposal, on issues ranging from abortion to end-of-life care or lack of it, are of concern.
During the past few days, President Barack Obama's administration has issued mixed signals on the "public option." That may be a start toward addressing the many flaws in the current bill - though liberals already have made it clear they intend to fight hard to retain the government insurance program. Obama may be ready to give in to them. Clearly, a major battle over health care reform will take place this fall, when members of Congress return to Washington.
We urge Mollohan, who has heard the concerns of West Virginians, to reflect them in his behavior in regard to the health care bill. Those who voiced criticism at the "town hall meeting" represent a very large number of Mollohan's constituents. We hope the congressman understands that, and serves as our representative in Washington.