Sen. Grassley Joins AARP and Divided We Fail for "Cost of Doing Nothing on Health Care Reform" Forum in Mason City

By: State: Iowa | Source: AARP.org

A capacity crowd of more than 175 AARP members, business, health care and community leaders welcomed Iowa's Sen. Chuck Grassley (R) recently in Mason City to discuss the urgent need for Congressional action on health care reform.

The forum featured a question and answer session following opening remarks by Sen. Grassley, AARP's National President-elect Lee Hammond, National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Iowa Director Andy Warren, Senior Vice President of Physician Integration at Mercy Medical Center—North Iowa Dr. Paul Manternach and SEIU Iowa President Cathy Glasson.

Sen. Grassley outlined his four key steps to health reform as: develop reforms through a bipartisan process; focus on bringing health care costs under control; upholding the promise that you can keep the health care coverage you have, and that any health care system changes must ensure that decisions are made by patients and doctors.

AARP National Board President-Elect Lee Hammond stressed the urgency of Congress to address reform and the importance of addressing coverage and strengthening Medicare in the process.

"When it comes to health care, doing nothing may be the most expensive option. We face the painful reality that without health care security, there can be no economic security. The two are bound together. AARP is calling on Congress and the President to find bipartisan, common-sense solutions that will provide affordable health choices for all Americans this year."

Under the banner of Divided We Fail, Sen. Grassley joined the town hall-style event that was viewed nationally via a live webcast and re-broadcast on Iowa Mediacom stations statewide and nationally on C-SPAN. Visit www.DividedWeFail.org for more information.

To view the forum, go to www.aarp.org/iowatownhall and visit www.DividedWeFail.org for more information.