Tension high at Grijalva health care forum

The tension was as thick as the humidity in the air Wednesday as U.S. Congressman Raul Grijalva held a public forum on health care reform in Yuma.

About 160 packed into the main room of the Yuma Regional Corporate Center for the forum, with about 80 people left outside because the room was filled to capacity.

Grijalva and members of the medical and social services community spoke on the topic of health care reform. Later, Grijalva answered questions submitted by the audience.

"To say everybody's on their own - good luck - that's not enough," Grijalva said, saying that health care reform is necessary - including the much debated "public option."

He said including a public option would help create a free market and in turn, help drive down and control the cost of health care.

Grijalva also spoke about another widely talked about topic: that the bill will include death panels.

"Absolutely false," Grijalva said. "All it says is grief counseling."

Panelists included Pat Walz, chief financial officer of Yuma Regional Medical Center; Dr. Sultan Lalani with Yuma County Medical Society; Jill Harrison, Western Arizona Council of Government on Aging; Dr. Moinuddin Mokhashi with Pediatric Associates; Dr. Jose Munoz, president of San Luis Walk-In Clinic; David Rogers, CEO of Sunset Community Health Center and master of ceremonies Dr. Carl Meyers with Sonoran Desert Oncology.

Walz said it's necessary to have all parties at the table when talking about health care reform. Health reform should eliminate inefficiencies and should include tort reform.

Dr. Lalani also talked about tort reform, saying that it's necessary to change the judicial system.

"We need to get the lawyers out of the medicine," he said.

While Walz said the answer may not be an easy one, he doesn't think Congress should rush to a vote on it.

Several of the panelists said preventative medicine is key in keeping people healthy.

After the panelists spoke, Grijalva was able to answer about 15 questions, or what Myer said was about 2/3 of the questions submitted.

But Yuman Barry D. Todd said none of the ones he submitted were answered. Todd said the forum "was a total waste of time."

Todd, who got to the venue at 7:45 a.m. Wednesday to make sure he had a seat, said he wants less government intervention and more accountability in health care.

"Get them out of the way," he said.

As a business owner and retired military member, Todd said he understands both sides of the debate, but he said when the government is in charge of things, there is no accountability.

His biggest concern: "It's the take over of 1/6 of our economy," Todd said referring to the amount of money spent on health care.

Guillerma Fuentes traveled from San Luis to attend the forum.

She said her biggest concern is that a lot of people are not receiving services.

Also a business owner, Fuentes said she sees her husband's private insurance increase annually.

"Every time they pay more and more and more for private insurance," she said. "If you don't, then you chose to end up being without insurance."

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Videos to the right are from the panel speakers at Wednesday's forum.  Click here for videos from the Q&A portion of the forum.

Download the entire text of the healthcare reform bill through this page on Congressman Grijalva's website.