Goodlatte Visits Valley to Speak on Healthcare Reform
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Updated: 7:23 AM Mar 10, 2010
Goodlatte Visits Valley to Speak on Healthcare Reform
U.S. Congressman Bob Goodlatte joined the discussion on health care reform Tuesday in the Valley.
Posted: 6:40 PM Mar 9, 2010
Reporter: McKinsey Harris
Email Address: McKinsey.Harris@whsv.com
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U.S. Congressman Bob Goodlatte joined the discussion on health care reform Tuesday in the Valley.

Goodlatte spoke to the Waynesboro Kiwanis Club, and says this is one of the largest, most ambitious undertakings we've seen.

Goodlatte says the current health care reform isn't the way to do it.

He favors a more modest approach, with more competition, allowing insurance across state lines and things like pooling for smaller businesses.

"Be able to get the kind of competitive rates that a corporation would get because that pool is negotiating for everybody in that pool and also deals with the preexisting condition problem, because you spread the risk of the problem," says Goodlatte.

However former democratic delegate candidate Erik Curren says while the ideas are good, we need a comprehensive, federal plan.

"And so I think just saying that we should essentially take a hands-off approach with a few very small ideas that we've been talking about for years that probably won't make much difference, that's not going to give relief to small businesses," says Curren.

Another modest reform idea is with medical liability.

Goodlatte says there's too high an amount of defensive medicine that doctors and hospitals practice.

"And to try to cut back on the enormous costs of insurance for doctors and hospitals and other health care workers because of current very litigious system that we have," says Goodlatte.

And while Curren agrees with Goodlatte on that, he says it's still not enough.

"While some of Congressman Goodlatte's ideas are good ones, I think he's really missing the point, which is that we need to pass a comprehensive, federal health care reform bill now," says Curren.

But Goodlatte says this urgency isn't something he agrees with.

"To do good and get it right, then it is to do a big thing and do it now," says Goodlatte.

Goodlatte was asking many people he spoke with to contact their representatives and tell them their concerns or ask questions.

With President Obama wanting to vote on the issue before Easter recess, Goodlatte is hoping it can wait for a more incremental approach.

Goodlatte says his biggest concern with the current health care plan is the cost.

He says it's currently unsustainable.

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