Small businesses talk health care costs

About 35 representatives from small businesses in Danville sat down to lunch with state delegates Wednesday to talk about health care.

The National Federation for Independent Business Owners hosted the lunch at the Stratford Inn to provide a forum for small business owners and employees to hash out some concerns and suggestions with Delegates Danny Marshall and Don Merricks, as well as a representative from the AARP and an insurance company.

As independent business owners themselves, Marshall and Merricks both said they have gone through the frustrating and expensive process of providing health care for their employees.

For the past 20 years, NFIB representative Julia Ciarlo said, small and independent businesses in the federation have listed health care as their biggest concern.

Small businesses account for 52 percent of all U.S. workers, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Marshall, R-Danville, said he’s currently working on a bill to reduce the number of mandates. Calling up a phrase commonly associated with the mandate system, which requires insurers or health plans to cover certain providers and benefits, he said it was like telling someone they have to buy a car, but the only car they can buy is a Cadillac.

Everyone present seemed to agree there are a number of factors contributing to the rising costs of health care. Many were quick to blame insurance companies.

“There are plenty of options,” said Rita Smith, with the Danville Cardiology Clinic of insurance companies in Danville, “just no affordable options.

“There are lot of simple things we can do,” to help reform the system, she said, but “we can’t do it without intervention from the government.”

Smith noted that the government is heavily pressured by insurance company lobbyists.

Representing the Virginia Association of Health Plans, Catherine Harrison pointed out that “there are so many moving parts” to the health care system.

It’s not just the insurance companies, she said.

Dr. Gary Miller, a cardiologist with the Danville Cardiology Clinic, agreed with Harrison that “consumer awareness is key.”

He pointed out trends in health and the medical profession that are contributing to high costs.

“We just sit too much,” Miller said.

He also held doctors culpable, noting that in our current health care system mentality “it’s easier for me to order (expensive) tests than to think.”

Miller also noted that in the current health care systems, where people wait until health conditions become perilous or when people can’t afford basic coverage, they often go to the emergency room for routine tests, which wind up costing more.

As the general election primaries get underway, Amy Gilbody of the AARP said it was crucial for very disparate interest groups to come together and pressure the candidates to address our nation’s health care crisis.

Contact Sarah Arkin at (434) 791-7983 or .