Election 2010: Both sides of the health reform debate
Two doctors running for Congress have very different prescriptions for the nation's health care system.
Election 2010: Both sides of the health reform debate
Mariannette Miller-Meeks, MD, is the Republican candidate for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District. She sees the steady expansion of government-sponsored health care as a threat to people's choices of health care and health insurance. "Just allow people to purchase health insurance through the companies that already exist," she says, adding that competition among health insurance companies would increase dramatically if they could market their policies across state lines.
Photo by David Purdy / www.davidkpurdy.com
Election 2010: Both sides of the health reform debate
Manan Trivedi, MD, is the Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania's 5th Congressional District. He believes there is enough money in the health care system to pay for needed care, and he cheers the fact that the new health reform law will cover tens of millions more people. "I will fight for quality, affordable health care for every American," he says on his campaign website. Expanding the use of electronic medical records could help reduce unnecessary care, he says.
Photo by Steve Boyle / www.steveboylephoto.com
Election 2010: Both sides of the health reform debate
Barbara Grassley, wife of Iowa Republican Sen. Charles Grassley, speaks at an August campaign event for Dr. Miller-Meeks. As a former president of the Iowa Medical Society, Dr. Miller-Meeks strongly backs tort reform. She says the U.S. can save $60 billion over 10 years by capping damages in medical malpractice lawsuits, which force physicians to practice defensive medicine and perform unnecessary tests. She also supports catastrophic coverage for all, rather than complete coverage.
Photo by David Purdy / www.davidkpurdy.com
Election 2010: Both sides of the health reform debate
Dr. Trivedi joins other volunteers to pack box lunches at a fire station in Bally, Pa. He believes in public service and investing in community health. "Because so much of health is determined outside the doctor's office or hospital, we need to think about health every day, not just the days we visit the doctor," he says on his campaign website. "I will work for making all neighborhoods healthier -- with walking paths, open spaces and access to healthy groceries."
Photo by Steve Boyle / www.steveboylephoto.com
Election 2010: Both sides of the health reform debate
A positive relationship with a physical therapist after a childhood injury influenced Dr. Miller-Meeks' career choice. She was an Army nurse before becoming a physician. She decided to specialize in ophthalmology because it offered the challenge of surgery while allowing her time to raise a family. She left her practice in 2008 but volunteers at a free health clinic.
Photo by David Purdy / www.davidkpurdy.com
Election 2010: Both sides of the health reform debate
After finishing at Boston University School of Medicine, Dr. Trivedi was a battalion surgeon in the Marines early in the Iraq War, overseeing the care of more than 1,200 troops. He decided to specialize in internal medicine because he believed being an internist would help him address the widest array of problems. Dr. Trivedi also advised President Obama on health care policy during the 2008 presidential campaign.
Photo courtesy of trivedi for congress
Posted with the Sep. 6, 2010 issue - Accompanying article: Elections 2010
AMEDNEWS MULTIMEDIA Experience the news through graphics, photos and audio.
