Coast medical community mixed on health care ruling | News

BILOXI, MS (WLOX)- Every doctor, hospital and clinic in the country will be impacted by the Supreme Court's decision to uphold health care reform. The reaction is mixed among those in the coast medical community.

Dr. Persharon Dixon is the medical director of the Coastal Family Heath Center. 

"It's a resounding victory for the patients that we care for, Dixon said. "This is excellent. It really allows us to continue to do the great work that we're doing for uninsured patients."

That was the reaction at the popular clinic in Biloxi, as word of the ruling came down in front of patients and employees. 

The center's CEO, Angel Greer, also sees the ruling as positive.  

"What this does do is open the door for affordable healthcare insurance and access to care. So we think there's an opportunity for healthier Americans," Greer said.

But not everyone is so quick to jump on the health care reform bandwagon.  Dr. Paul Pavlov has some concerns about the individual mandate provision.  

"It concerns me that now health care, if you don't choose it, becomes a tax. And if you do choose to do it, you're essentially paying your tax to the insurance company," Pavlov said.  "I'm not sure about my feelings about that."

Hospitals will be impacted to a great degree. There's a feeling of uncertainty about the bill.  Richard Lucas is with Singing River Health System.  

"It's certainly very complicated and we've got to study it thoroughly," Lucas said. "There are very popular, positive pieces and there are some challenging pieces. What the end result we all hope will be is helping to manage health care costs more efficiently." 

One of the major provisions of the bill that was upheld Thursday is the expansion of Medicaid and Medicare programs across the nation. And for those who give care to the less fortunate among us, that is a very big deal, according to Dr. Dixon. 

"That's the other 16 million folks who are out there who now in 2014 will be able to get the Medicaid they need," Dixon explained.  "That gives people a few more opportunities to really make sure that prevention is what we really focus on." 

For now, the focus is on moving forward under a brand new set of health care rules.

While some provisions of the health care reform act are currently in effect, major changes, including the individual mandate, won't take effect until 2014.

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