Nurses Join Healthcare Debate

That is the result of a new study by a private research group, Commonwealth Fund, that's making the case that states with health care reform are doing better to provide care and limit costs. It is one of the many studies and surveys supporters of health reform are using to make their case. Some nurses are joining the debate.

Even though the public option has been voted down in the House Finance Committee, the nurses, part of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), say the discussion is far from over. The group has been going into communities with the idea that if anyone can sell healthcare reform, it is healthcare workers.

"One of the most important things that we want to see is that healthcare reform is done right. We want to make sure that nurses have their voice out there," said Valentina Zamora-Arreola, a registered nurse.

Rebecca Wheeler and her husband were home Saturday morning when the group knocked on their door. Wheeler says she already supports healthcare reform but she's glad to see the nurses out there getting the information out.

"There's been a lot of fear mongering and preying on people who are not able to read things or maybe won't read things on their own and so they listen to sources that i don't particularly consider reliable," Wheeler said.

Similar events were held across nine states Saturday. The group says even though any reform will be better than none, they would like the final senate bill to not tax benefits but place mandates on employers; two main details some have criticized about the reform efforts.

"We deal with the people when they are sick and we want to make sure that we are looking at healthcare reform options and that we have a public health option," said Zamora-Arreola

AFSCME staffer John Noonan adds, "I don't know why the other side is so afraid but what i do know is that poling in Arkansas has showed that over sixty percent of constituents in the state are supportive of the tenets of a public health care option."

Noonan says he hopes hundreds of letters to Arkansas senators from Arkansans who support reform will make a difference in how they vote in Washington when the time comes.

The Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to vote Tuesday and is expected to pass a healthcare reform bill on to the senate floor. Several amendments are expected before any final vote.