FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 31, 2018
CONTACT: Ben Gardner, ben@robdavidsonforcongress.com
@voterobdavidson
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More than 200 attend Davidson healthcare forum, share concerns as Huizenga is a no-show
SPRING LAKE, Michigan — More than 200 people packed a conference room in downtown Zeeland Monday night to share their concerns about healthcare at a forum hosted by Rob Davidson, an emergency physician running for the Second Congressional District. Despite multiple invitations to join the event and be part of the conversation, Congressman Bill Huizenga refused to attend.
“We’re seeing Republicans, Democrats and independents be part of the conversation because healthcare affects all of us, they’re tired of the broken status quo and career politicians who put Big Insurance ahead of people, and they want real solutions,” Davidson said after the event. “Healthcare for all isn’t a Democratic or Republican solution to a problem that threatens to kick tens of thousands of West Michiganders with preexisting conditions off healthcare and send prescription drug costs through the roof. Healthcare for all is an American solution that provides security and peace of mind to all families.”
Davidson kicked off the forum by asking how many people have preexisting conditions and have or know someone with challenges paying for high medical bills, and a majority of the audience raised their hands. Panelists who shared their healthcare stories included Jeff Specht of Wyoming; Linda Visscher of Holland; and Betsy Rhein of Holland.
Rhein shared a story of her husband’s melanoma and her son’s battle with pancreatitis, which resulted rounds of complex surgeries, including the removal of organs. “Without a pancreas, he still needs thousands of dollars of medication so he can eat and digest food,” Rhein said. “Quality healthcare should not be a luxury. It is one of the necessities of life.”
Specht recounted a by-now infamous story Huizenga told of delaying treatment for his son’s broken arm to make the point that patients should behave like consumers and find the best deal, so they have what Huizenga calls “skin in the game.” Specht said Huizenga thinks “we’ll make the right cost-benefit decisions and I was just flabbergasted by that because no one in a healthcare emergency makes good, rational decisions.”
Davidson said: “I am extremely grateful to our panelists for their courage in facing their healthcare challenges and for sharing their stories publicly so we can work together to make things better for everyone. I’m humbled that so many people came to our forum on a Monday night and spend two hours sharing their concerns about healthcare and other issues. I got into this race because I was getting frustrated that so many of the patients I see in our ER are victims of a broken, dysfunctional healthcare system that costs more yet has worse outcomes compared with many other nations. Their health and sometimes lives are at risk. We can and we must do better, and hearing from the folks who came to our forum, I’m hopeful that we will have healthcare for all, protect people with preexisting conditions and make sure everyone can get the care and treatment they need.”
Attendees of the event raised many questions about healthcare, especially the Medicare-for-all plan that Davidson supports. On cost, Davidson cited an analysis that was released Thursday showing Medicare for all would cost less as a percentage of the GDP compared with current spending on healthcare. According to the Mercatus Center analysis, Americans would save more than $2 trillion for Medicare for all over 10 years, compared with the status quo. Located at George Mason University, the Mercatus Center is funded by the right-wing, libertarian Koch brothers. On access to providers and care, Davidson said a Medicare-for-all plan would ensure all providers are part of a large national network available to all Americans.
Davidson plans to host more healthcare forums in Wyoming and Muskegon, on Aug. 14 and Aug. 23, respectively.
To watch the Zeeland forum in its entirety: https://business.facebook.com/RobDavidsonForCongress/videos/2160504837520314/
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Committee to Elect Rob Davidson, 518 West Savidge Street, Suite 3, Spring Lake, Michigan 49456.