Forum offers opportunity to learn about Health Care issues

Health Care has been a polarizing issue in politics for many years. As health care costs and insurance rates began to dramatically rise, Congress and state legislatures have looked for ways to enact “Health Care Reform” over the past several decades. Most of these efforts met with failure.

The Affordable Care Act was passed by Democrats in 2010 and signed into law by President Obama. The law mandated that every citizen purchase health insurance and set up markets to try to make insurance affordable for those who could not easily purchase it on their own. The law has many provisions that are popular, but also some that have proven to be problematic. In the eight years since it was passed, Republicans have made it their mission to repeal this legislation, but despite having a majority in both the House and Senate and a Republican in the White House, were unable to do so last year. In the meantime, the only constant about health care - both before and after the Affordable Care Act was passed - has been constantly rising insurance rates, often in double digits.

The New Prague Community Action Council is holding a community conversation on “The Future of Healthcare Policy: What’s Next,” from 1-2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. The panel discussion includes two of our area legislators - Rep. David Bly (DFL-Northfield) and Sen. Rich Draheim (R-Madison Lake), as well as Rep. Clark Johnson (DFL-North Mankato) and Mary Klimp, vice chair of administration for Mayo Clinic Health System’s Southwest Region and former CEO of Queen of Peace Hospital in New Prague.

Health Care will continue to be a major topic as the 2018 elections approach. Sunday’s event is a good opportunity to find out what is being discussed and what is at stake in the coming elections.