A speaker Tuesday said the "public option" issue is important, but so are other elements of the health care reform debate.

A West Virginia University professor discussed health care with members of the Wood County Democratic Executive Committee.

Doctor Christopher Plein says expanding Medicaid, and encouraging uninsured people to get insurance are also important elements of the discussion.

"The public option should be seen on a substantive level as trying to be a remedy or a solution to the problem of the high cost of health insurance in the public market. It also should be seen as a political device that has helped influence debate and dialogue," Dr. Christopher Plein, Assistant Dean, West Virginia University: >>

The executive committee also publicly expressed its appreciation to First District Congressman Alan Mollohan, for his vote in favor of the house version of health care reform.