Oregon Public Broadcasting

The movers and shakers of Oregon’s health care industry held a forum in Portland Wednesday. As Kristian Foden-Vencil reports, speakers seemed more hopeful than at past meetings.

About 400 doctors, insurance executives and health care experts talked about everything from HMOs to ethics. But at the top of everyone’s agenda was whether a Congress burdened by two wars and an economic crisis, has the political will to reform the health care system.

Several speakers, including Senator Ron Wyden, said that despite the nation’s problems, they’re optimistic.

Ron Wyden: “I think in this Congress it is possible to thread the health care needle, bring reformers together, and get this legislation to the president’s desk for an historic signing ceremony.”

Wyden said there seems to be growing consensus in D.C. around issues that until recently were highly controversial -- like the need for everyone to be covered by the new system, and to be able to keep their current insurance.