Recently, I went to Washington, D.C., to meet with Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and Rep. Michael Michaud to discuss health care reform. How very fortunate we are to have these people representing Maine.

We all seem to be on the same page as to the need for reform of the health care system. Early detection and prevention programs are a must; no one should be excluded because of pre-existing conditions or have a cap on their policies.

However, we are a long way from reaching agreement on how to craft legislation that would make health care affordable, accessible and administratively simple.

The task before lawmakers is a daunting one, with more than 600 amendments to the current bill. I am very concerned that people’s needs will get lost in the shuffle. There are so many advertisements out there that are misleading, and that worries me. The current bill needs to be explained about benefits and its effect on Maine people. Health care is an issue important to all of us.

I am very proud of Snowe for asking for a delayed vote on this bill “so she could do her job,” and not just kill the bill because someone was in a rush for a vote. Many thanks to her for doing an incredible job for Maine’s people.

Diane Mitchell, Rumford

Maine state lead, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network