Still have concerns and suggestions

UPPER PENINSULA -- Health care providers and patients across Upper Michigan were watching Wednesday night as President Obama tried to sell health care reform to a heavily divided Congress and nation.

The president's speech remained on the minds of many on Thursday.

One patient at Portage Health in Hancock said he wasn't won over by the president's words.

"He’s a hell of a speech maker, but he doesn't say anything substantive,” said Jeff Groom.  “I don't know where he's going to go with this."

Meanwhile, hospital executives from across the U.P. who were gathered at the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge in Copper Harbor seemed much more receptive to the president’s plan.

Several people said the speech went well, but they still feel there are issues that need to be brought up or clarified.

"One thing I think could be included as Congress is finalizing this is, don't just make this a sick care health system, but make it about wellness and preventative care," said Gary Muller, the president and CEO of Marquette General.

Dennis Smith, the CEO of the Upper Peninsula Health Plan, had one concern.

"The public insurance option is too unformed,” said Smith.  “So I think when we all talk about that, we all have our own biases about what it is."

Some members of the group also had concerns about whether or not the government can handle such a massive reform.

"To get the full package in one bill is becoming increasingly more difficult, and I think Congress and the president need to address the things they agree on that can be put into law," said Jim Bogan, the President of Portage Health.

One point of agreement for everybody there--America’s health care system needs to be reformed.  And they believe that the right kind of reform will benefit everybody in the U.P.