Monday, Nov. 09, 2009

Health care forum on tap for area seniors

Health care reform has been a confusing issue for most people as it works its way through Congress and through town halls across America.

The S.C. Alliance for Retired Citizens is having its own town hall meeting this week, but this town hall will not include rhetoric or be hosted by politicians. The alliance works with other organizations on issues that affect senior health, economic security and housing concerns. The town hall scheduled for Thursday will include information on health and public services specific to seniors, as well as speakers from health care fields with specific answers about general health care concerns.

Julie Harbin, president of the alliance, talked about what makes this town hall different from the many that have been held and how it ties into the Veterans Day holiday.

Question | What's the purpose of the health care forum, and how did it come about?

Answer | The purpose is to make experts available to S.C. seniors to answer their questions and concerns on medical, legislative and environmental health challenges specific to South Carolina and to provide an update on the national health care reform legislation.

Pam Creech, our vice president, and I both care for aging parents, and our personal experience plus our work in other organizations led us to recognize a need for information and advocacy on the part of the senior population. Consequently, we helped start the alliance in June 2008 and focused its activities on protecting health and economic security of S.C. seniors.

Q.| Who are the panelists, and what information will the public have access to?

A.| Some of the panelists include Dr. Tracy Nelson, with Myrtle Beach Doctors for America, who went to Washington, D.C., when Doctors for America met with the president in October. She'll talk about why she went and what she talked with the president about. Michele Turner, health care director for the Charleston Area League of Women Voters and a certified rehabilitation nurse, will present national League of Women Voters positions on health care reform and why they have pushed for reform. She will also address changes in health care since managed care by private insurance companies started in 1994, an effort that was supposed to control costs but didn't. Nancy Cave, North Coast office director for the Coastal Conservation League, will talk about the National Research Council report released in October 2009 that estimates hidden costs of energy policy on human health at $120 billion. Those costs include water and air pollution from utilities. Also speaking will be Gloria Bonali of the S.C. Silver Haired Legislature, Bill Cea, regional director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, and representatives from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.

The public will have access to information about South Carolina's specific health challenges and an update on the national health care reform legislations and will be able to ask questions and get professional opinions. It's not a chance to get doctor's advice on personal health problems.

Q.| What is the significance of having the event so close to Veterans Day?

A.| Veterans are one of our favorite subgroups of seniors. Pam [Creech] chairs The Coast Regional Transportation Authority's Citizens' Advisory Committee. The committee worked closely with Coast members to develop community service routes. Two examples are the Coast announcement of a new bus stop at the veterans clinic at The Market Common and the new bus route to take veterans to Charleston for medical appointments.

Q.| Should people come to the event even if they don't have specific questions?

A.| Definitely. The senior population in Horry County has exploded over the last five years with most moving here from other states. We will have informational handouts that will be helpful to new residents trying to locate important services in our area. In addition, we find that seniors and their families are mostly unaware that South Carolina has air and water pollution problems that can affect their health and quality of life. Every senior, every family member and everyone who cares about and for seniors needs to know about these potential threats.