Future Doctors Concerned About Healthcare Reform and Their Future

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker met with some of Mississippi's brightest medical students in Jackson Tuesday, to talk about healthcare reform. MPB's Patty Davis reports.

Senator Wicker told 18 University of Mississippi Medical School students the main reason he's opposed to President Obama's proposed health care overhaul is cost. The current proposal would "bankrupt" states he says, if the Medicaid programs is expanded to cover the uninsured.
Wicker: In their effort to provide Medicaid coverage to our citizens, I think it would bankrupt the Medicare system. And that's a system that actually needs more of an infusion, a better system of making the numbers work out.

UM med student Josh Hughes has his concerns about a plan for affordable insurance.
Josh Hughes: Basically I just wanted to know what type of regulation he prefers for insurance. I just don't know if it's a system that will work.

Wicker says the problems are too big and too complicated to rush to a solution, and lawmakers must take their time and cover all the underlying elements of healthcare reform.
Wicker:We need a healthcare system that is more affordable that is accessible for all Americans. And we need an insurance product that is portable.

There was no extra credit for students to attend the roundtable, but john davis and Katy Raglin were glad they did.
Davis,Raglin:It shed some light on many issues about this that was a little misinformed on or not well educated on. I am very happy to have the opportunity to hear it. I agree, the only thing is it's too short. Reading the bill, just as a medical student, I think for anyone who is not a law student or in the legal profession, it is really difficult to understand exactly what it says. There are still some key issues that I am unclear about.

Wicker said he would host townhall meetings on the issue in Mississippi, but he hadn't set any dates. For MPB News, I'm Patty Davis