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As a registered nurse, my ongoing concern regarding our health care systems is that we have chosen not to invest in services designed to support an individual in maintaining good health. Specialty services such as cardiac surgery and high cost admissions to the emergency department for diabetes that is out of control are paid for while services such as self management programs were historically vigorously by the health insurance companies for many years.

I believe that health is a responsibility of the individual, her or his provider and whatever third party pays the bills. Each is equally responsible and our state's and nation's goal should be to promote health. Unfortunately our population has relied on health care (drugs, surgery, dialysis) to correct lwhat is often the result of lifestyle choices, our reimbursement policies have not supported primary and preventive health care services and we have not yet become brave enough to eliminate our duplicative, inequitable and overly expensive system in favor of a single system which offers essential health services to all.

I look forward to a new opportunity to achieve policy changes in the 2009 Oregon legislature and the possibility that Congress and the Administration will begin the journey toward comprehenisve reform

Susan King MS, RN

posted 4 years, 4 months ago
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