Health Insurance Services

The phones have been ringing steadily for several weeks at U.S. Rep. John Boccieri's offices.

Some callers are adamant the federal government should stay out of the health care business. Others express support for reform proposals.

The calls seem evenly spilt, said Jessica Kershaw, spokeswoman for Boccieri, D-Alliance.

'Just as many people are calling on the side that opposes reform,' she said Wednesday.

Boccieri, meanwhile, said he hasn't made a decision on the proposed health insurance reform bill pending in the House.

For starters, the initial bill was rolled through three House committees. Those three versions will be combined into a single bill.

'I'm not going to take a position on something I haven't been able to read yet,' Boccieri said.

He believes reform is needed, saying that health care insurance and energy dependence have been the two biggest albatrosses weighing down the national economy.

But Boccieri said he has concerns with some of the health insurance bill's proposals. He doesn't want to see small businesses bear the burden and be forced to take on coverage insurance companies won't pay.

He likes efforts to focus on preventing health problems, because he believes that can help lower costs over the long term. He also wants to see disputes over pre-existing conditions ended.

'I don't want to have socialized medicine. We need a plan that's truly American,' Boccieri said. 'This is an American challenge, and if we don't get it right the long-term competitiveness of our country is at stake.'

'NOT DODGING'

Boccieri said he's not dodging questions from either side of the health insurance debate.

'The whole notion that we're ducking and dodging is simply not true,' Boccieri said.

Health insurance reform has been a hot topic for the national media this summer.

There have been full-blown arguments between constituents and elected officials at town hall meetings around the country. Many argue they don't want the government involved in health care services.

There have been telephone calls, letters and e-mails to congressmen nationwide.

Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown has responded to more than 100,000 inquiries about health insurance reform in recent months, said Meghan Dubyak, spokeswoman for the senator. He also has sent 45,000 e-mail alerts and 16 newsletters on the topic.

Telephone calls to Boccieri's office have bogged down his phone system, Kershaw said. The Canton office has five to six people who take calls. Office voice mail is cleared every few hours.

There are organizations that automatically dial the office, sometimes connecting people who have volunteered to call. But in some instances, the callers are from outside Ohio and not really aware of who they are calling, Kershaw said.

IN THE DISTRICT

Boccieri is spending August in the district meeting constituents and attending events.

On Tuesday, he visited the Beech Creek Botanical Garden in Washington Township and the Canton Arts District. Both have benefited from federal funding programs.

Boccieri made similar stops Wednesday at health clinics in Wooster and a ground breaking for a factory in Ashland, then met with Ashland's Chamber of Commerce. Protesters greeted Boccieri at the groundbreaking, and he has asked his staff to contact the group to arrange a meeting.

He spent Thursday with radio broadcasters in Canton, visited Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway in Brewster and toured the Margaret B. Shipley Child Health Clinic in Canton.

Boccieri said his office has more than 100 requests from constituents who want to meet with him or have extended invitations. Visits during the past week have helped him fulfill some of those requests.

The visits and events are consistent with his activities since taking office in January, Boccieri said.

During that time he's held four teleconference town hall meetings that have reached 8,000 people, according to Boccieri. He also had nine 'Congressman on Your Corner' stops around the district and 15 health care meetings with medical personnel and patients.

'We're making ourselves available,' Boccieri said.

His office is working on more teleconferences to discuss health care, Kershaw said. No details have been set. But people who want to participate in a teleconference can call Boccieri's office to sign up.

Other events are anticipated, but nothing has been formally announced.

HEALTH CARE DISCUSSIONS

The health insurance bill has been a key topic when Boccieri visits health clinics.

Thursday he talked to Laurie Inskeep, the Shipley clinic's executive director, along with staff workers and a board member, asking their opinions on a health care reform bill.

The Shipley clinic has more than 6,000 clients and more than 85 percent are Medicaid patients, Inskeep said. The center relies on private donations and billings ' most of them collected from Medicaid ' to pay the bills.

Many clients are referred to the center after receiving initial treatment at local hospital emergency rooms. 'This is our county's safety net for children,' Inskeep told Boccieri.

Boccieri said he's been learning the key role that free clinics play in helping people who aren't insured or rely on Medicaid. Getting the perspectives of health professionals is important, he said.

'We want to take our time to speak to professionals who will be affected.'



BOCCIERI'S POSITION ON HEALTH CARE

U.S. Rep. John Boccieri, D-Alliance, has outlined his health care insurance stances ' the 'six Ps' ' on his Web site:

Everyone deserves access to quality, affordable health care. In doing so, we must work to ensure fair compensation for providers and increased accessibility to care while meeting the needs of communities across our district.

Without creating a government funded program, six principles guide my support:

People: Affordable access to health care for everyone.

Prevention: An increased focus on prevention and wellness

Pre-existing: Insurance coverage extends to pre-existing conditions.

Portability: Ability to take health insurance from job to job.

Physicians: Incentives for patients and physicians to work together to determine the best care for the patient.

Pay: Our health care system should be paid for without raising taxes.