Posted: Sunday, August 23, 2009 7:13 am

Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Murfreesboro) answers questions during a telephone Town Hall for between 500-600 voter Friday. He'll meet with constituents Monday night in Tucker Theatre at MTSU. TMP/ M. Willard

To have productive conversations and obtain advice on health care reform from Tennessee's 6th Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon has scheduled several discussion opportunities over the next two weeks.

Gordon will be available in Murfreesboro the following days:

• Aug. 24: Face-to-Face office hours, starting at 9 a.m. at the Patterson Park Community Center, 521 Mercury Blvd. in Murfreesboro.

• Aug. 24: Town Hall meeting, at 7 p.m. in Tucker Theater on MTSU’s campus in Murfreesboro.

In addition to these events, constituents are always welcome to stop by Gordon's district offices. The Murfreesboro office is located at 305 W. Main Street; the Gallatin office is located at 100 Public Sq., Room B-100; and the Cookeville office is located at 15 S. Jefferson Ave.

But before he meets the masses at a Town Hall tomorrow night, Gordon answered a few questions related to the health care debate.

TMP: Why does the nation need health care and health insurance reform?

Gordon: We are already spending $1 in every $6 on health care. While Middle Tennesseans tell me they generally like what they have, they are also very concerned they won’t be able to keep up with rising health care costs and might lose their insurance. At the federal level, I am concerned we won’t be able to control the federal budget and reduce the deficit if we don’t get runaway health care costs under control. In addition, we have problems in the insurance market. People are denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions or they lose coverage because they get sick. Too often, small businesses and people who work for themselves can’t get group insurance rates and can’t find affordable insurance. Health care reform should address all of these points, or we shouldn’t do health care reform.

TMP: What do you hope to accomplish with health care reform?

Gordon: I hope to make health care more affordable and fairer for all Americans.

TMP: What has your role been in drafting the House of Representative’s health care reform bill, or H.R. 3200?

Gordon: The Energy and Commerce bill is one of five bills being considered. We still have 90 amendments to complete before we finish the Energy and Commerce Bill. Some of the accomplishments I have had to date are reducing the cost of the bill by $100 billion, expanding the small business insurance mandate exemption, and making the Speaker of the House wait until the fall so my colleagues and I had more time to discuss health care reform with constituents. I was also able to get alternative medical malpractice reforms in the bill, which should help reduce the number of lawsuits that add unnecessary costs to our health care system.

TMP: Do you support the creation of a “public plan”? If not, why not?

Gordon: I do not support a single-payer plan or forcing everyone in the United States into a government-run plan. I have concerns about including a public insurance option because it could undermine competition and lead to a single-payer plan. I don’t think monopolies, whether it is a single-private plan or a government-run plan, are good for the American public.

TMP: Do you support the idea of national health care co-ops?

Gordon: I want to learn more about the idea. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says we could lower insurance prices if there was more competition in the insurance market.

TMP: Can the country afford health care reform at this point?

Gordon: If health care reform does not reduce health care costs, lower the federal deficit and make health care more affordable for everyone, we shouldn’t do it.

TMP: Can H.R. 3200 be deficit neutral? If not, will you support it?

Gordon: H.R. 3200 has to be deficit neutral, reduce costs moving forward and make health care more affordable for everyone, or I am not voting for it.

TMP: You’ve said you want H.R. 3200 to reduce waste in Medicare and the future health care system. What amendments have you proposed or steps you have taken to reduce waste in H.R. 3200?

Gordon: The original draft of the House bill took substantial steps towards reducing waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare and eliminating overpayments, which will amount to $500 billion worth of savings. In committee, I supported additional efforts to eliminate paperwork and streamline administrative functions. For example, we can get another $10 billion-$15 billion in savings by having Medicare pay doctors electronically rather than by paper check.

TMP: There are a number of misconceptions surrounding H.R. 3200. Will you address some of these points?

Gordon: There is language in the bill explicitly banning illegal immigrants from receiving health care benefits from the bill. Medicare benefits are not going to be cut. There are many other rumors floating around out there, and they are not helpful – they instill fear in people and prevent constructive and necessary conversations from occurring about this very important issue. We are a long ways away from a final bill and it is my hope that as we work to improve the various drafts of the reform legislation and get closer to a final version, the dialogue will focus on why reform is necessary and how our country is going to get it done right.