Clinics, ads encourage debate

By Mark Fischenich

MANKATO — August, the traditional summer recess by Congress, was projected this year to be a month-long debate on the merits of historic health reform legislation to be decided this fall.

So far, the debate has been a quiet one in Mankato. The only real efforts to get the discussion started included some radio advertising by supporters and opponents of reform aimed at constituents of Congressman Tim Walz and a visit last week by Planned Parenthood.

One radio ad, sponsored by the Republican National Committee, warns listeners that President Obama and congressional Democrats are proposing “a dangerous experiment” that will drive up the national debt, boost taxes and have the federal government making decisions about people’s health care.

“It’s too much, too fast,” the ad states. “Call Congressman Walz ... and tell him to say no to this dangerous experiment.”

The Democratic National Committee countered with an ad that praises Walz for putting the interests of average Minnesotans above those of health insurance companies and states that the reform plan will lower costs while protecting patients’ choice of doctors and coverage plans.

The DNC ad portrays reform opponents as insurance company executives who “are fighting tooth and nail to stop reform and protect the status quo — and their profits ...”

The DNC ad also suggests a call to Walz to thank him “for standing up for Minnesota families and our health care.”

Kathi Di Nicola, the director of media relations for Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, said that organization is also attempting to persuade supporters to make their voice heard — using phone banks and other methods.

“Politically, this is absolutely our top priority,” said Di Nicola during a swing through southern Minnesota towns where Planned Parenthood has clinics. “I think it’s some of the most important legislation of our lifetime.”

Terry Kruse would agree with Di Nicola’s last point, but from the opposite perspective. A Mankato resident, Kruse believes the Democratic legislation is a large step toward a government-controlled health care system that will leave most Americans worse off.

“We’re headed toward socialized medicine,” said Kruse, who is hoping Democratic Congressman Tim Walz will hold a town hall meeting where she and other southern Minnesotans can sound off. (See accompanying story.)

Di Nicola said Planned Parenthood is trying to persuade Walz and the state’s congressional delegation to support a strong reform bill.

“We’re absolutely discussing with them the needs of women and the importance of reform to women and specifically the women we see in our clinics across the state every day,” she said.

Di Nicola had a long list of statistics aimed at showing that the current insurance system is increasingly unaffordable for the nation, leaves millions without the care they need and doesn’t provide the quality of care found in many other industrialized nations.

Among the numbers:

n In 2007, 25 percent of women said cost concerns caused them to delay or skip needed health care.

n More than four-fifths of uninsured people come from working families.

n Growth in health insurance premiums has been 8 to 14 percent a year compared to growth in workers’ earnings of 3 to 4 percent.

n Uninsured women were more than twice as likely to have skipped a pap test in the previous year.

n Even those who have insurance, if they also have low incomes, are more likely to miss necessary tests and treatment because they can’t take time off of work or have transportation problems.

n The United States ranks 27th in the world in infant mortality.

Di Nicola said the need for a better health care system is obvious for people working in Planned Parenthood clinics, especially in rural areas.

“We’re one of those front-line safety net providers who are there regardless of (patients’) ability to pay,” she said. “We’ve seen a need for meaningful health care reform for decades, and we’re hopeful that will be accomplished.”