Moving Forward with Health Care. Together

By Randy Jotte

When someone comes to see me they usually have an urgent problem, like chest pain or injuries from a car accident. Working with them toward a diagnosis and providing treatment is very fulfilling - it's one of the reasons I became a doctor. However, it is very frustrating when their care is prevented by having the wrong insurance, or worse, no insurance.

One patient, James, had diabetes. He recently was laid off from his job as a forklift operator when his company downsized. Unemployed and uninsured, he could not pay for his insulin. He had already lost part of one foot to complications of diabetes and was worried that, without insulin, the wound on his other foot would get worse and lead to more surgery. His concerns were valid. Unfortunately, I had little to offer him. Ironically, if James becomes disabled by a foot amputation he will be eligible for full treatment of diabetes through Medicaid, Medicare, and a federal cash assistance program. We need to do better.

Our health care system has changed a lot over the last generation. We know these changes will continue + we just need to make sure it moves in the right direction. My experiences in health care, not only as a physician but also working on policy at the local and state level, will allow me to provide meaningful input on solutions and how they will impact all of us. Changes must help people like James, but not jeopardize the care others currently receive.

As your state representative I intend to make health care more secure - for all of us.