Over the next
few days Genesis Health System is hosting a series of legislative town
hearings. The plan is to discuss health care issues and other concerns with
area lawmakers.
On Wednesday, local
Iowa senate
democrats Joe Seng, Chris Brase, and Rita Hart are invited to the session. These forums
will give the community the opportunity to discuss important issues coming up
in the next legislative session.
Two things that
are going to be hot topics today: health care and Medicaid. The local
legislatures invited to the forum are expected to field questions regarding
both of them.
Last year was an
important year for health care with the re-election of President Obama, which
guaranteed the Patriot Protection and Affordable Care acts.
In December, Iowa
Governor Terry Brandstad expressed concern that government health care
programs, like Medicaid, are taking a larger bite out of the state budget.
On top of that, Iowans
are coming up on 100,000-150,000 Iowans without coverage, unless legislatures
step in. Which is why local Democrats are invited today, and Republicans later
this week.
Although Health care
issues are expected to take up the most time Genesis officials say they will be
discussing other topics as well. Concerns over
gun violence and gun control may just as easily be brought up.
"It gives the
people of davenport and the local areas to get out and talk to the
legislatures. one of the biggest issues that we have as a country right now is
that people feel like they don't have a voice," said Genesis Corporate
Communications Specialist, Austin Bird.
The forum starts
at 3 PM at the Adler
Health Education
Center. Genesis officials
say the forums are meant to help educate their employees but also welcome the
public to attend.
Other dates and
times for meetings include:
· Thursday, Jan.
10, 3 p.m., Adler
Health Education
Center, 1236 E. Rusholme St., Davenport.
Local Iowa House Democrats Phyllis Thede, Cindy Winckler, Frank Wood and
Jim Lykam have been invited to the forum.
· Friday, Jan.
11, 3 p.m., Adler
Health Education
Center, 1236 E. Rusholme St., Davenport.
Local Iowa House and Iowa Senate Republicans Roby Smith, Linda Miller
and Steve Olson have been invited to the forum.
· Monday, Jan.
14, 4 p.m., Larson Center Classroom, Genesis Medical
Center, Illini
Campus. Local Illinois Senate and House
representatives Pat Verschoore, Mike Jacobs, Mike Smiddy and Don Moffitt have
been invited to the forum.
