Health Care Reform Debate Comes to Keck

August 31, 2009

“Medical schools are an important part of the [health care reform] process,” said Carmen A. Puliafito, dean of the Keck School. “The essence of health care is people - nurses, technicians, administrators and, of course, physicians. The future of physicians all starts here in medical school.”

Rep. Schiff, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee, House Judiciary Committee, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and a number of key Congressional subcommittees, outlined the key details of the health care debate.

While Rep. Schiff offered his personal opinions on the various bills being considered, his overall goal was clear.

“We have got to move forward in reforming the system. I don’t want the perfect to be the enemy of the good,” he said. “But I do think this is a test of the country. Do we still have the ability to get reasonable minds together and reach a reasonable decision? I think if we are successful, we will look back on this period … and say we did a good thing as a country.”

In his presentation, Rep. Schiff discussed common agreements among the five bills that are currently under consideration, including health plans that would not discriminate against pre-existing conditions or drop coverage due to illness. He pointed out that the bills also agree that health insurance should be portable when changing employers and take into consideration public and national health care costs with an aim of sustainability.

Where the bills differ most are on the public option issue and on the idea of requiring health care insurance of all citizens, according to Rep. Schiff. He also dismissed popular myths of the bills, such as the idea of “death panels” and that people would be forced out of their current plans. Rep. Schiff assured the audience that neither myth has a basis in truth.

He ended his discussion by talking about what he was focused on in terms of what is missing from the bills.

“I don’t think we do enough in the bill to try to affect that escalating health care premium,” said Rep. Schiff. “There are steps we are starting to take in the bill to control costs, but we need to do more.”

The floor was then opened for questions and opinions from the crowd, consisting primarily of first-year medical students and Health Sciences Campus faculty. Rep. Schiff responded to concerns about physician reimbursements, parity in mental health coverage and lack of health care providers, among others.

“The town hall format is valuable because I can hear what my colleagues are concerned about,” said Madeleine Bruning, pediatric nurse practitioner and clinical instructor of pediatrics at the Keck School. “I'm curious as a consumer of health care and as a provider.”

The forum was presented by the Dean’s Council on Health Reform, a new initiative that features monthly forums and a Web site serving as a clearinghouse for information about health care reform.

"[The forum] was very informative. I learned a few new things, and I consider myself well-informed,” said Michael Cousineau, associate professor of research in the Department of Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine at the Keck School. “I was inspired by Congressman Schiff's leadership on this issue, and I am excited that USC and our dean have taken such a strong leadership role, as well.”

For more information on health reform, or to watch a webcast of the forum, visit healthreform.usc.edu.