Title: Doctors react to Obama speech

" How was the president's speech received by the medical community joining us with reaction this morning doctor she's jock he's an associate professor of health. Policy and management at the Harvard school of public health and it's great to have you with us this morning good morning thank you can just start doctor's job with how you most Americans do you have. Health insurance and everybody agrees that they want universal coverage for everybody -- doesn't have. But for the people who do they're concerned about what kind of treatment. They're going to get will it be worse and are they gonna have to pay more right what did you see from president Obama's speech. That would reassure our or make those people more concerned right this."

" I thought the president finally came out and talked about this issue head on there's been a lot of misinformation about this topic. And the big issue for people insured uninsured through the university through Harvard. You know if I change jobs and I have a preexisting condition there is some rest that back preexisting condition won't be covered in my new job. That's that that's the insecurity that people who have insurance field today. That big part of the plan that deals with that is it takes away preexisting conditions it takes away caps so I think from most people don't notice anything -- And to the extent that they noticed any difference. Those issues on preexisting conditions are gonna go away and it's gonna allow people to feel more secure. In the health insurance they have so I think for most Americans this is actually. Oh win -- back and make a big difference in their lives but I think it's going to be. And what about cost you don't hear as much about that you hear about that universal coverage but for cost. And people are so afraid their premiums are gonna go up and you're putting 47. Million people into the system right so I think there's two issues on cost first is for. For the average family I'm actually not worry that their premiums are gonna go off for this. That the big issue in my mind that if you think about it. Where are you bringing into the -- you bring a lot of young healthy people who don't have health insurance into the pool. That's -- on average lower insurance premiums for everybody. So I think most Americans and most American families are and other notes and noticed no difference or media gonna get a slight benefit. The problem is how do you cover the uninsured. How -- come up with a 900 billion dollars is gonna cost the government to cover that that those people and that's the part where I'm not sure that we really have clear answers."

" How do doctors and other medical personnel I mean how -- DOE this mean the inflated prices. You know it cost 10000 dollars to you know get a cast on your hands. Art doctors and hospitals prepared to drastically lower rates and prices."

" So the current pricing scheme that we have in healthcare is a mess it's crazy right. And insurance companies pay very different amounts and if you have to pay out of pocket. I think what you're gonna see is once everybody's in the pool a little more rationality coming -- because there's no reason to have these inflated prices. If everybody's paying through a private insurance companies and government. So my hope is -- you'll see some nationalization of the prices. And that's going to be potentially benefit -- for most. Right if that would go down that intern premiums insurance premiums should go down and what about. Are there enough doctors and nurses to serve the 47 million people who could be put. Into the -- no that's a terrific question and we've seen this in Massachusetts right where it's very hard to get in this primary care. I think there's a big issue nationally they're going to be large parts of the country that are not going to be able to handle the influx of people now the reality is we have to get these people. Out of the emergency room and into primary care offices that's a good thing for the health care system that's a good thing cost is good things for them. But the reality is that we don't have the work force that's ready today I don't think to handle it. And that is going to be a challenge and it's gonna. It's gonna require us investing more nurse practitioners. And physician assistants other professionals picking up some of the slack -- I don't think him -- primary care. I -- it referred to the Massachusetts health care system and largely while -- viewed as successful. The government is subsidizing so much of it and the big question is can can you afford that can we afford that as a nation. Two I think we're between Iraq and our place. We can't afford not to do it. The reason is that the way that's costs are going up right now Medicare is gonna bankrupt federal government if we don't do something. But bringing in 47 million new people into the system is hardly a solution for costs. And -- that's why a very reasonable criticism of the Obama plan. And the democratic approaches instead of focusing on the on short first we should figure out how to deal with cost first. Then bring in the 47 million people don't overwhelm the systems noticed and that is a reasonable argument. The Obama administration pushes back in argues that you really can do both at the same time. And that -- in some ways need to bring all those people and to help create more rationality into the system that's a that's a tough call I don't know how this plays out but we know where the focus has been which is to make sure that those people. I have insurance and that for most families we create more security. So that you don't worry about losing your health insurance well we certainly appreciate your expertise doctor -- job from the Harvard School of Public Health. Thank you very much for joining -- my pleasure thank you. If you missed last night speech you can see it in its entirety on our website going to do is -- anything and dot com."