This diary is in response to one written about a week ago here discussing John Hall's evasiveness on the public option. I wrote to Rep. Hall asking for clarification on his position on the public option. I am not entirely thrilled with it, and he does not explicitly endorse a robust public option.
After a few (most likely boilerplate) paragraphs about health care and the need for reform, he finally got into the meat and addressed the public option and/or a competing alternative to private health insurance. He said (emphasis mine):
I believe that any comprehensive legislation must be a uniquely American solution that builds on what works and fixes what is broken. Any legislation that earns my support must include the preservation and expansion of choices. Americans must have the freedom to choose an insurance plan that works best for them and their family. If you are happy with your current plan and your doctor, you should be able to keep them. If not, you should be able to easily access information about other choices. I will NOT support any plan that lets the government tell you that you cannot see the doctor of your choice. I do support providing an alternative to private health insurance that will increase patient choice and keep costs down.
I am with him 100% on preservation and expansion of choices, and agree that without a plan to keep that costs down, this reform will most certainly fail. As much as I kept up with the health care debate, did I miss something about the government telling people which doctors they can and can't see? Sounds like in-network vs. out-of-network to me.
Anyway, Rep. Hall goes on to talk about the crippling effect of health care on small businesses:
I am a cosponsor of H.R. 2360, the Small Business Health Options Program Act, which would make health insurance more available and affordable for small businesses and their employees.
and electronic medical records and access to primary care physicians:
I am a cosponsor of H.R. 2350, the Preserving Patient Access to Primary Care Act, which would address this critical shortage of primary care providers in America.
While he is clearly head and shoulders above our previous representative, the lovely Ms. Sue Kelly, I would still like to see him come out with much stronger support of the public option.
If you live in NY-19, please contact him via phone or e-mail and express your support for a robust public option.