Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., on Wednesday talked reform with health professionals from Missoula's two major hospitals - one day after the groups voiced their opinions to U.S. Sen. Jon Tester.

One of the problems with America's health care system is the focus on quantity rather than quality in patient care, said Jeff Fee, president and CEO of St. Patrick Hospital. There are few incentives to deliver quality care to patients.

"The more we do, the better we get paid," Fee said during a sit-down session at St. Patrick Hospital late Wednesday morning. Fee said he would like that to change.

Earlier in the day, Rehberg met with doctors and administrators at Community Medical Center across town to discuss reform, as well as financing possibilities for a proposed $20 million Women's and Newborn Center.

However, the meeting was closed to the media. Community Medical Center President and CEO Steve Carlson said the hospital had only planned for a small meeting and opening the session to the media had not previously been discussed.

The listening sessions with Tester the day before were open to the media at both hospitals.

The meetings were part of Rehberg's efforts to hear what health professionals all across the state have to say about health care reform. Also, the congressman has held 16 town hall meetings on the topic. The nearest to Missoula was in Hamilton on Aug. 21.

When asked why Rehberg hadn't held a listening session in Missoula, he replied that he needed to "save some (towns) for the senators," referring to Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., and Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., who have yet to schedule any town hall listening sessions during Congress' monthlong recess.

Many Missoula residents attended the listening session in Hamilton and Rehberg said he tries to visit rural areas as much as urban centers. However, Rehberg was also quick to point fingers elsewhere.

"Let's criticize those that have yet to have any," he said, referring to Tester and Baucus.

Tester told news outlets on Monday that he was waiting for a bill to be introduced before hosting a listening session with constituents so the dialogue could be more focused.

A Baucus spokesman has said the senior senator - a lead architect in crafting health care reform - has been chatting with Montanans randomly in coffee shops and fast food restaurants.

Also discussed at Wednesday's sessions with Rehberg was the need to change antitrust regulations that create duplication of costly specialized services. Does Missoula need two cardiology programs and a Life Flight and a CareFlight for a population of roughly 90,000 residents?

"It's not necessary," said Dr. Mark Sanz, a cardiologist at St. Patrick Hospital.

The federal government is the largest insurance company in the nation through its offering of Medicaid and Medicare. The readmission of Medicare patients to a hospital within 30 days is around 19 percent, Fee said.

Rehberg supports insurance pools, where employers team up to offer better coverage and reduced rates, and allowing consumers to purchase health coverage across state lines. He's in favor of telemedicine opportunities and reducing defensive medicine - medical practices aimed to avert future lawsuits.

But do these changes go far enough to fix what many are calling a crisis in health care?

"Any legislation is a work in progress," he replied. "I'm glad we have August to talk about it."

Rehberg said he wants to avoid making quick, radical change that Congress has to spend time later fixing.

There was no mention of the controversial topic of a government-run health care system, which Rehberg has previously said he opposes.

Reporter Chelsi Moy can be reached at 523-5260 or at chelsi.moy@missoulian.com.