Today, Congressman Tim Bishop held a public Tele-Town Hall with thousands of Long Islanders to answer questions about health care reform. Constituents who joined the Town Hall asked questions directly to the Congressman on a wide range of issues—Medicare, the public option, abortion, undocumented immigrants, cost controls, access to doctors and whether patients could keep their current insurance plans if they wanted.

“This Town Hall is a very important way for me to hear Long Islanders’ hopes and concerns as well as to explain the details of health care reform,” Congressman Bishop said. “Forums like this are important to get the final product right. I believe that more time for public review of this complicated and far-reaching legislation is needed, which is why I wrote a letter urging Speaker Nancy Pelosi to postpone a vote on the bill.

“My goal is for the final bill to ensure that Americans have stable health care coverage that stays with us through life's ups and downs and won't bankrupt us in the process. We need a uniquely American solution that builds on the best of what already works to foster competition among insurance plans and provide patients with quality choices.”

In all, 3,600 constituents participated in the Town Hall meeting.

Congressman Bishop encouraged constituents to go to his website to read answers to common questions about the House draft of the bill (HR 3200), study the full text of the draft bill for themselves, or listen to a recording of the Town Hall meeting.

Audio of entire Tele-Town Hall:

http://timbishop.house.gov/uploads/Health%20Tele%20Town%20Hall%2007.30.09%201.mp3

Common Misperceptions on Health Reform:

http://timbishop.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=39&itemid=1532

---