Obama defends his health reform plan at Va. town hall

President Obama once again mounted a defense of his health system reform plans during a July 1 town hall discussion, this time just outside of Washington, D.C., in Northern Virginia.

"There is no doubt that we must preserve what is best about our health care system, and that means allowing Americans who like their doctors and their health care plans to keep them," Obama said. "But we also have to fix what's broken about health care in America -- and that means permanently bringing down costs for everyone."

To reduce expenses, the health care industry must continue to invest in electronic health information technology as well as prevention and wellness programs, the president said. He also said the government must provide better financial motivations to physicians.

"We should change the warped incentives that reward doctors and hospitals based on how many tests or procedures they prescribe, even if those tests or procedures aren't necessary or result in medical mistakes," Obama said.

Questions for the president came from a live audience of about 200 people at Northern Virginia Community College's campus in Annandale, as well as from social media Web sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Obama fielded roughly a half-dozen questions on a range of topics, including single-payer and employer-based health system concepts, coverage for small businesses, the "doughnut hole" in Medicare prescription drug coverage, and the idea of a health insurance exchange.

The president said the good news about his reform plan is that about two-thirds of it would come from reallocating money that is already spent, "but isn't being spent wisely." The remaining third of his health system reform plan would be offset by capping itemized tax deductions by the very wealthy, he said.

One question submitted to Obama via the Internet came from Rep. Michael Burgess, MD (R, Texas), who asked the president why he opposed capping noneconomic damages in medical liability awards. Obama responded that he does not like the idea of caps because some patients need more protection against negligent care.

Dr. Burgess, who is a member of the GOP Doctors Caucus, noted later in a press release that "Texas has seen thousands of new doctors, nurses and medical professionals flock to the state" since it capped noneconomic damages in 2003.