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Kleeb listens to health care concerns

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By DON WALTON / Lincoln Journal Star

Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008 - 06:04:59 pm CDT

Scott Kleeb listened Wednesday to the complex challenges of a health care system increasingly under duress.

The Democratic Senate nominee sat down at lunch with seven Lincolnites who are engaged in health care policy to explore their views as he prepares his own legislative plan.

“You guys are on the front lines,” Kleeb said.  “Your feet are much closer to the ground.”

Story Photo
Democratic senatorial nominee Scott Kleeb (LJS File)

What Kleeb heard during conversation over sandwiches, chips and cookies on the 4th floor of the Apothecary Building was a litany of growing problems yet to be resolved.

Increasing health care demands, growing numbers of people without health insurance, rising costs, huge problems in Medicare and Medicaid funding, all complicated by an economy in distress.

“We are unable to meet the demands out there,” said Steve Bray, executive director of the People’s Health Center.

Medical encounters rose from 18,000 in 2006 to 22,000 in 2007, with 53 percent of those patients uninsured, he said.

An estimated 30,000 Lincolnites do not have health insurance, Bray said.

Inadequate Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements are shutting off access to a growing number of Lincoln physicians, said Joan Anderson, executive director of the Lancaster County Medical Society.

“People are falling through the cracks,” said Beatty Brasch, executive director of the Center for People in Need. 

“There’s an ongoing erosion of Medicaid in the state,” said Becky Gould, executive director of Nebraska Appleseed.

“A real retreat in terms of access to services.”

Lori Seibel, president of Community Health Endowment, said advocates have had to find “creative solutions to get around roadblocks” in a system that seems to be turning into “health care by negotiation.”

Gould said she believes health care reform should be “a blend of public-private, with subsidies kicking in at the right place.”

Brasch said she supports a universal health care system.

Participants generally agreed on the need for portability of workplace health insurance coverage and the urgency of concentrating on preventive health care.

Several proposed rewarding lower insurance premiums to those who don’t smoke and deal with issues of obesity.

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.


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Marie wrote on July 30, 2008 7:04 pm:
" Recently we watched the mother of a coworker be confined to a nursing home. It was then we watched a rapid demise because her mother had to be transported back and forth to the hospital for dialysis. Amazing to most of us was that there aren’t dialysis machines readily available at skilled nursing homes or even some hospitals in Nebraska. There are allot of people finding the “health care” system isn’t all it could and should be. It is hard enough to suffer from a disease or broken bones or stroke or Alzheimers without undergoing stresses and pressures because there is a lack of trained personnel or equipment. Maybe Scott can help, we know the current Repbublican plans don’t include making Medicare better, only to cut and drop services leaving people behind. Presumptive Senator Kleeb, will you help where others have avoided assistance and care? "
JpS wrote on July 30, 2008 7:55 pm:
" Kleeb is a nonfactor in this election. Why doesn't he go back to riding
cows or whatever he was doing prior to 'thinking' he was a leader!!!!! "
DBM wrote on July 30, 2008 8:24 pm:
" At least Kleeb is listening to people and isn't in the pocket of the large insurance companies, which probably isn't true of his opponent. I would guess his opponent is in the pocket of many large corporations and that my friends is really the main problem. Our government is "we the people" any more, it's "we the large, powerful corporations" and until that changes we will never see affordable health care. I would much rather vote for someone that "rides cows" than someone that rides on the backs of the poor and middle class. "
whatever wrote on July 30, 2008 9:07 pm:
" Johanns must be stopped. Kleeb may not be THE answer, but he is all we have for the moment and there is hope for him. Johanns is a quitter and a lost cause. He never was a "Nebraskan" and never will be. He cares for himself and no one else. And believe it Kleeb WILL be a factor. The Democratic Party has money to burn. The Republicans, well the fact McCain had to come to Nebraska to campaign just about says it all. "
mTm wrote on July 30, 2008 11:05 pm:
" I'm sure he listened. If he had a qualatative answer or even understood the question - that is the question? "
hollister wrote on July 31, 2008 12:43 am:
" Every person in Nebraska has felt the effects of the failed healthcare policies of the Bush administration. Record profits for the insurance industry lead to sky-high premiums for we the working people. Drug companies' partnership with the Republican administration leads to bulging election coffers for political insiders and unaffordable prescription costs for the rest of us. Scott Kleeb will work smarter and harder to help us create a healthcare system we can be proud of.
JpS, Democracy is the fine art of letting the voters decide who is or is not a "non-factor." "
feelgood wrote on July 31, 2008 8:29 am:
" kleeb listens woop de doo. another feel go with no substance democrat that cant win an election. breaking new would be if he actually formulated a solid plan. that's not likely, instead he and his supporters will continue with the johanns bashing. then will the democrats figure it out that voters expect them to have the solution. "
Please wrote on July 31, 2008 10:31 am:
" please! to blame the current health care crisis on bush is another left-wing scape goat battle cry from someone who has NO answers...the healthcare industry has been in trouble well before bush and will be well after. Saint Kleeb won't be able to fix it...its too complex for him to even grasp...let alone fix. the guy is a novice and all he has to offer is a pretty smile. Stop pointing fingers at bush for every ill in the world and be intellectually honest -- you'll find the evil "W", while very imperfect, is far from the root of all the things you complain about. "
He needs to do more of these wrote on July 31, 2008 10:54 am:
" because the newly released poll doesn't give some good news for him. "
JpSs alter ego wrote on July 31, 2008 1:56 pm:
" Lot of substance there, ol JP. Basically, what I'm hearing is that people are sick of the same old argument from the GOP side. I know I sure am. They claim there is nothing wrong with our health care system. I tend to disagree and believe there is plenty wrong. I also believe that most, if not all, can be remedied with the correct approach. I think a two year stint in the Ameri-Corp would be a good start. Then, give those who participated a break on their insurance premiums or access to reduced fee health coverage. You can also provide them with a tuition stipend to help them get their education. Give them more if they go into the medical field, as we know what kind of shortage of qualified medical personnel we will face in the coming decade. "

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