U.S. rep hosts health care meeting in state
MIAMI GARDENS (AP) – More than 400 people turned out Thursday night for a health care town hall hosted by U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, one of the last before Congress reconvenes from its summer recess.
Unlike some such meetings earlier this summer that degenerated into shouting matches between those for and against government reform, the one at Miami-Dade College’s north campus was peaceful. Most participants supported reform that includes the public option. Others asked whether they will be able to keep their doctor.
Those few who were more skeptcial about the proposals said they wanted to see tort reform included and higher reimbursement for doctors serving Medicaid and Medicare patients.
Some also said they feared that the money wasn’t there to pay for a public option.
Meek, a Democrat whose district stretches just north of Miami, said earlier that one of his goals for reform will be more money for community health centers that treat low-income patients and middle-class families lacking health insurance.