MichiganRadio

Michigan Health Care Providers React to Reform Bill ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) - Members of Michigan's medical community are reacting to the United States Senate's approval of a sweeping health care overhaul measure.

The Senate bill requires nearly all Americans to buy insurance.

It also forbids insurance companies from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions.

Rob Casalou is president and CEO of St. Joseph Mercy hospitals in Ann Arbor, Saline and Livingston.

He says he and his colleagues in the health care industry are waiting to see how the U.S. House will reconcile its version of the legislation:

"Funding is going to be probably No.1.," Casalou says. "We'll be watching for what stays in and what stays out, and then also we're obviously interested in what's happening with the abortion coverage issue."

Casalou says Michigan could end up shouldering more Medicaid costs. But he also says expanding access to health care coverage under an insurance exchange is a good thing.
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