by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
There will be a rare mid-summer public meeting of the Duval Delegation Wednesday in City Council Chambers. The 1 p.m. meeting was requested by State Sen. Stephen Wise in an effort to bring the Delegation together before traveling to Tallahassee for the upcoming special legislative session.
And, they’ll have one thing on the agenda: health care, specifically medical malpractice insurance and liability caps.
“We need to have everyone side-by-side and go over things,” said Wise. “When we went to the last session we had three bills. We need to look at where we are.”
In addition to discussing the issue in an open forum, Wise encourages the public to attend in order to voice their concerns and ask questions.
“I want people to come and tell us what their problems are,” said Wise, who is interim chair of the Duval Delegation. “I want the trial lawyers to come. I want the hospitals and doctors to come.”
Like many legislators, Wise understands the issue is a political hot potato and there’s no cure-all that will satisfy everyone. He also realizes the importance of reaching some level of agreement.
“I think if we don’t, we’re in trouble politically,” said Wise, adding he firmly believes the only way to pass a bill will be to condense the verbiage into one piece of legislation. Wise also isn’t convinced the upcoming special session will be enough. “When everyone is equally unhappy, some bill will get written. I’m not sure we get a bill out in three or four days. I think we will have to meet a couple more times. I think he [Senate president Jim King] will extend the session or call us back again.
“But I don’t think he’ll call us back unless we have it worked out. We’d just look like jerks.”
According to Wise, the issue is one the verge of creating an economic, never mind health care, nightmare.
“The bottom line is, if the doctors don’t offer the services then the hospitals lose money,” he said. “I have neighbors that are critical nurses and they are having their hours cut back because the hospitals are cutting back. It’s becoming an economic issue.”