Kinder visits Nevada on the campaign trail

Thursday, October 7, 2004
Missouri Senator Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, speaks to a group of citizens gathered at Nevada Regional Medical Center Wednesday afternoon. Several Republican supporters attended, including Larry DeLaney, Republican candidate for sheriff; and Barney Fisher, Republican candidate for a seat in the Missouri House of Representatives.

By Lynn A. Wade

Nevada Daily Mail

State Senator Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, visited Nevada on Wednesday, as part of a tour of all of the state's 114 counties as he campaigns for election to the office of Missouri lieutenant governor.

Kinder visited with a small group of citizens gathered at Nevada Regional Medical Center, highlighting his position on health care and on reforming the state's civil law system, which he believes is important in controlling medical malpractice insurance rates, which in turn will help to keep a broader range of medical services available in Missouri, especially in rural areas.

Judy Feuquay, hospital CEO, told Kinder that area doctors are very concerned about the issue, and that keeping services in the area is important to the hospital in many ways. In addition to serving the community's medical needs, she noted, the hospital is one of the area's largest employers.

Kinder said controls need to be put in place, because he believes the medical system is in crisis in Missouri.

Women's health professionals are one group affected by rising malpractice insurance. In fact, many, including Nevada's Scott Beard, have discontinued the obstetrics portion of practice due to high insurance premiums. Kinder related an account of a OB/GYN doctor in Macon, Mo., whose insurance doubled, forcing her to move her practice to a larger town. "She would have had to deliver 90 babies a year just to pay this insurance premium," Kinder said.

The son of a pediatrician himself, Kinder said he feels the problem is escalating, and that Nevada doctors could easily leave the area for another state with a more favorable business environment for medical practitioners.

Holly Bush, NRMC nursing supervisor, asked Kinder about funding issues relating to mental health.

Although the hospital has added 16 beds to a new unit for mental health consumers in the past few years, more space is needed.

Federally mandated transportation to another facility for those who need it is not reimbursed, she said, which places a burden on the local ambulance service, which sometimes transports such patients long distances to the closest available bed.

Kinder responded by inviting Bush to share the information with legislators and making them more aware of such mental health issues.

During his visit, Kinder also told voters he's pro-life, supported Amendment 2, which voters overwhelmingly approved in August, constitutionally designating marriage as only between a man and a woman.

Kinder also stated he believes that by rooting out wasteful spending, state officials can find more money in the budget for education, roads and other vital services.

At the request of one of the citizens attending, Kinder also briefly outlined Amendment 3, which constitutionally protects certain road tax fund from diversion.

Kinder said he's making an effort to visit as many communities as he can, and will make stops in each of the state's 114 counties.

"Every part of this state is important. That's why I want to visit every county," Kinder said.

Earlier on Wednesday, Kinder had visited a walnut production facility in the Stockton area, and had also recently visited Joplin and Neosho.

Following his visit to Nevada on Wednesday, he was headed to Butler.

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