Healthcare leaders in North Texas said healthcare legislation in Congress could hurt their businesses and cost consumers money — but many also said changes are needed to address the millions of uninsured Texans, growing healthcare costs and low reimbursement rates by the government.

A panel of hospital executives speaking Monday at a healthcare summit sponsored by the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce painted a picture of a system that is struggling under increased demand from consumers who often use emergency rooms for primary care, may not have health insurance and sometimes can’t afford follow-up and preventive care that could keep them from returning for more treatment.

Texas has "the most uninsured of any state in the union," said Barclay Berdan, senior executive vice president of Arlington-based Texas Health Resources. "That puts the burden on everyone else."

Key provisions in the health reform bills working their way through the House and Senate, however, could increase headaches for local businesses, the executives and other speakers told the crowd of about 100 local business leaders.

Rick Merrill, president and chief executive of Cook Children’s Health Care System, said proposed cuts for Medicaid funding for hospitals could increase the state’s burden by $6 billion when the expected increase in eligible patients is included.

Travis Baugh, president and chief operating officer of Fort Worth-based Healthpoint, said Congress should take its time in crafting a plan.

Healthpoint, a pharmaceutical company, produces and researches devices and treatments for wound care and skin injuries. Baugh said additional taxes proposed for the pharmaceutical industry could cripple efforts to research and develop products.

"This innovation is not going to happen if you suck all the capital out of the industry," Baugh said. "Do we really want to be reformed? I think that’s a valid question."

Dr. Susan Rudd Bailey of Fort Worth, president-elect of the Texas Medical Association, and Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Flower Mound and a doctor, said doctors are struggling to maintain their practices amid scant payments from Medicaid and Medicare.

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