From left, Joyce Janus, Congressman Steve Kagen, Kristene Stacker and Laura Waldvogel at the Nicolet Medical & Dental Clinic in Lakewood. |
Rep. Kagen talks health in Lakewood Nov. 4, 2009 Congressman Steve Kagen, whose Eighth Congressional District covers northeastern Wisconsin including eastern Langlade County, paid a visit to Lakewood to discuss health care reform with the staff from the Nicolet Medical & Dental Clinic.
Kagen, a physician, met with Laura Waldvogel of Antigo, the clinic’s executive director, and her counterpart at the Fox Cities Community Health Center, Kristene Stacker.
Waldvogel told the lawmaker that every individual deserves access to quality health care regardless of their socioeconomic status.
“Our grandparents should not have to discontinue critical medications for easily treated medical conditions because they have to decide between that and paying for groceries,” Waldvogel said. “Northern Health Center’s, Inc. and our patients are very thankful for the efforts of Congressman Kagen and others who are working so diligently to address the need for health care reform.”
Joyce Janus, a member of the American Association of Retired Persons, thanked Kagen for “helping seniors by working to close the Donut Hole in Medicare Part D.”
After explaining that the bill includes provisions not only to close the Donut Hole, but to strengthen Medicare for seniors throughout the state, Kagen heard from Michelle Maisonneuve, a Sturgeon Bay cancer survivor who is struggling with what she described as an unresponsive insurance carrier and out-of-control premiums.
“It has been three weeks and I have yet to have my telephone calls returned,” she said.
Maisonneuve is a survivor of a rare type of cancer and said she needs an additional surgery to prevent infection. But her insurance will not cover the procedure, and she has already paid thousands of dollars out of pocket to cover related medical expenses.
"I want to get back to a normal—somewhat normal life," she said. "I just don't think people realize the problems that are out there until you really need your insurance."
Kagen, a Democrat, said that the House of Representatives health care reform bill represents significant improvements over a previous bill, including medical malpractice reforms, deeper discounts for prescription drugs, the total elimination of anti-trust exemptions for health insurance corporations, an extension of COBRA benefits, provisions for covering children on their parents plans until age 27, and increased payments to Wisconsin hospitals and doctors who care for Medicare patients.
“According to the Congressional Budget Office, this bill will reduce the federal deficit by over $100 billion in the first 10 years,” Kagen explained. “It is something we can afford and is a positive step towards securing quality care for all of us at a price we can all afford to pay.”
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