Salazar doing good job
on health care issue
Recently, with the ongoing heat of the health care reform debate, I have read a couple of comments critical of Congressman John Salazar. Unfortunately, they tell a lopsided and ideological story of his recent performance in this regard.
As an observer and student of health care reform, I have been impressed with Salazar’s willingness to share and spotlight the success stories of the Grand Junction medical system.
Recall the congressman’s invitation to President Obama earlier this summer. Subsequently, the president accepted the invitation with a visit to Mesa County in August. This visit further enhanced the visibility and message on reform that local health leaders have been articulating during the reform debate.
In addition, Salazar sent one of his Washington, D.C. staff members out to Grand Junction in August. During a two-day seminar, his staff member learned in great detail why the local health system is scoring so well on quality and cost analysis.
Then, as other legislators across the nation wasted time debating death panels and innuendo, Salazar returned to Grand Junction to hear directly from leaders of all the major entities of the Grand Junction health care system. Following that meeting, he sent President Obama a letter outlining the major aspects of Grand Junction’s success in health care administration.
Most recently, just this last week, leadership from the Colorado Medical Society met with the congressman in his Washington, D.C. office. As a participant at this meeting, it is obvious to me that Congressman Salazar wishes to pursue a moderate approach to health care reform. And, he is committed to getting it done.
Regardless of the outcome, health care reform legislation will require compromise from every spectrum of the system. From patient to doctor and from hospital to insurance company, we all must accept elements in the bill that we might not like. After all, if it were easy, this would have been accomplished a century ago when Teddy Roosevelt first confronted the issue.
It is my belief that the 3rd Congressional District from Colorado is being represented well during the current health care reform debate.
MICHAEL J. PRAMENKO M.D.
President-Elect
Colorado Medical Society
Grand Junction

Big-baby incident shows
need for health reform
Why am I not surprised by Rocky Mountain Health Plan’s initial denial of the “obese” 4-month-old baby? 
Our small business experienced something similar when RMHP tried hard to remove one of our employees from our company policy because both his wife and 8-year-old daughter were diabetic. It’s appalling that the medical director of RMHP, Dr. Speedie, excuses the organization by telling The Denver Post that RMHP underwrites as they do “because everybody else in the industry does it.” Wow. And this is the “model” we should base health insurance reform on?
We need real health insurance reform, not the same old, same old. If RMHP imagines itself as a leader in health care reform, it must stop doing business the same way “everybody else” does it. Anything less is a travesty of real reform.
Thank you to the Langes for going public with their story. I’m sure there are many more out there that need to be heard.
CYNDI CLARK
Grand Junction

Ritter is bound by state’s
balanced-budget rule
I have talked to many people who keep complaining about the budget cuts being made by Gov. Bill Ritter’s administration, but very few know that Colorado is one of the states that has a balanced-budget law, which mandates a balanced budget.
RON STONEBURNER, SR.
Grand Junction

Use lottery to help
fund public transit
With all the current budget problems everywhere, I am concerned about funding for public transit.
I would suggest that the state create a new, special game of the Colorado Lottery, with the net proceeds being designated to supplement other funding for public transit all over Colorado.
I think the public would support such a game as it would be a voluntary tax.
ED WARD
Grand Junction

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 14th, 2009 at 10:57 am and is filed under Printed letters. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.