March 21, 2009

As the health care debate continues in Washington, two local doctors weigh in on their views. Doctors Paul Davis, M.D. and Val Brown Junior, M.D. have somewhat differing opinions on the overhaul, but the one thing they agree on is that the current system needs fixed.

"We're in a mess because 70% of Americans are misbehaving," Davis said Sunday. "That's where the health care costs are coming from. I'd like for behavior to put me out of business rather than the government."

Dr. Davis practices out of his locally owned facility in Northeast Wichita and is opposed to President Obama's plan. He says health care is just like anything else. If it's free, it has no value.

"People need to feel like they are buying something... that they own it," Davis said. "If you're not paying something and if you don't own it, you won't treat it with respect. You'll abuse it, neglect it and mistreat it."

Davis says the current health care crisis already has caused many physicians to operate as a cash only business, eliminating the middle man such as insurance companies and the government.

"There's always that third person in the room that seems to change the decision making," Davis explained. "If the patient was paying cash, I could charge half what I charge and the patient could make a decision based on my advice."

Dr. Val Brown Jr., M.D. is an internal medicine physician in Wichita. He says even the lawmakers voting on the policy probably haven't read the entire bill.

"They say the devil is in the details and I don't believe anyone has examined the details of this new policy," Brown says. "But I think that all of us are going to have to sacrifice something."

Dr. Brown, who supports the plan, says even though he'll likely make less money under nationalized health care, he's willing to give up a little bit if it helps millions of people achieve coverage.

"The weight of this current health care is going to implode and destroy itself," he said. "I don't know what kind of health care people are going to have to scramble for because the rates are just going to go up. Nobody's going to miraculously lower rates and premiums are going to increase, so fewer and fewer people will have coverage."

House Democratic leaders are predicting the health care bill will get at least the 216 votes it needs to pass Sunday, even though they were still nailing down commitments in the afternoon.