Gastonia, NC, Feb 22 -

Congressman Patrick McHenry, a Cherryville Republican in his second term as the 10th District representative, strode through the halls of the new Robin Johnson House Wednesday, mingling with employees and patients while touring the 15,000 square-foot care facility located on a 20-acre site in Dallas.

McHenry, flanked by Hospice Director Lee Bucci and Robin Johnson House manager Julie West, wanted to get a first-hand look at the $6 million facility, paid for by grants and private donations.

The center, named for the Rev. Robin Johnson, pastor at All Saints Episcopal Church in Gastonia in the 1970s and early 1980s and influential in the organization of a local hospice in Gaston County, has 12 patient rooms for those unable to receive hospice care at home.

WHY ARE YOU VISITING THE ROBIN JOHNSON HOUSE?

I live here in Gaston County, I grew up here in Gaston County, I have known folks that have been in hospice care and am very grateful for their care and contributions. I’ve also heard about this facility and I wanted to see what is happening here and the really good work they’re doing.

This is a real blessing for our community, to have this high-quality of a facility and such high-quality people in this facility to deal with end-of-life elements.”

HOW FAMILIAR ARE YOU WITH END-OF-LIFE CARE AND THE SERVICES THAT GASTON HOSPICE PROVIDES?

I think we all know folks that have had some level of hospice care as they’re faciing life-threatening illnesses or end-of-life issues. But beyond just those personal experiences, in terms of public policy, how well hospice spends tax dollars, medical dollars, is a model.

WHAT’S YOUR TAKE ON PRESIDENT BUSH’S PROPOSAL TO CUT MEDICARE BY $183 BILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS?

We have to look at is whether the money is being spent effectively and there are some areas within Medicare with waste and fraud abuse - that’s where you have to look when you start any government reform.

We have to make sure we reform these systems and keep in touch with what is modern-day healthcare and rather than being short-sighted, look at the long-term effects, making sure people have insurance, that people have good prescription drugs and are healthier at a younger age to save money over their lifetime.

HOW LIKELY DO YOU THINK THE PROPOSED CUTS WILL HAPPEN?

The president’s budget is dead on arrival, you know, so there’s no reason to debate that. We’re at a time when Congress has been ineffective in getting anything done, so if we can even get a budget passed this year, I would be grateful and surprised.

THE MEDICARE BUDGET GREW FROM $219 BILLION TO $428 BILLION FROM 2000-07. THOSE SUPPORTING THE CUTS HAVE SAID THEY’RE THE “TOUGH MEDICINE” MEDICARE NEEDS. IS THAT YOUR BELIEF?

Look, entitlement programs are growing at an uncontrollable pace and it’s because Congress hasn’t looked at how effective these programs have been. It’s a one-size fits all apparatus and that doesn’t make any sense. It doesn’t make sense for taxpayers or for individuals trying to utilize these programs, these programs that they’ve been promised.

This is the struggle we’re going to have to have some conversations about. This is not a partisan issue. In the end, you have to look at ways of being more efficient with the tax dollars and make sure the government program is doing the smart thing and making the smart investments.

WHAT OTHER HEALTH-RELATED ISSUES IS CONGRESS TACKLING AND HOW COULD THOSE ISSUES AFFECT US LOCALLY?

We have to have healthy hospitals. We have to have a healthy number of doctors and nurses… we have to have more nurses coming into practices and hospitals because we’re an aging population.

You have to look at healthcare from so many different angles. One, making sure you limit lawsuits on doctors and to medical facilities to make sure we can keep a healthy supply of doctors and so they can actually balance their books. Two, making sure people can get healthcare tax-free. There’s no reason we should have to pay Uncle Sam before we pay our doctor. I think all healthcare should be tax-free. 

HOW TO YOU STAY FIT?

I love eating, so the only way I can tackle (staying in shape) is by exercising regularly. It comes and goes - those winter months are really tough. This is when I’m like a hibernating bear. You kind of get trapped. I try to work out a couple times a week. I belong to the (YMCA), the Cherryville Y, so when I’m home I get to go up there. In Washington, there’s a little place I can go get on a bike or treadmill.