Tester holds Flathead health care meeting

Senator Jon Tester was in the Flathead on Friday, telling health care professionals that he feels confident about the direction health care reform is headed.

Tester met with  Kalispell Regional Medical Center doctors, nurses and administration about what he called the broken status quo of healthcare.

The hospital's chief of staff told the senator medical malpractice needs to be changed- an issue that isn't being mentioned in current reform talks.  The issue of Medicare was also brought up, with much agreement there are extensive issues in reimbursements and regulations.

Tester said that talking to health care providers across the state has been crucial to working to reform the system.

"I do feel very, very positive. I think there's going to be a bill that gets to the floor in the next 10 days or two weeks that we can change and make it work and we will. And make it work for rural America (my perspective) and urban America."

The Democrat is headed to Troy on Saturday, where he is holding an open house on the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act.