Montana Senator Jon Tester says he's still waiting to hold town hall meetings on healthcare reform until there's specific legislation so that public dialog can be more focused.

Tester reaffirmed his position during a quick swing through Missoula today to meet with local hospital administrators, telling Montana's News Station the sessions with healthcare providers are important now to hear about the key issues facing the medical industry.

But, he promised public meetings will follow once actual legislation comes before the U.S. Senate. That way, he says the public meetings can focus on specific details and be used to help "debunk some of the myths" circulating in recent weeks.

"You know there'll be a time when the public is appropriate. But, right now since we don't have a bill it's really tough to get stuff nailed down" Tester said. "But, from a health care professionals standpoint, with people who are dealing with it on a daily basis it's good to get this foundational stuff so when a bill does come out we can take a peek at it from that perspective."

The Democrat added he believes it's important for Montanans to find changes in healthcare which will work for small business owners and families, putting reform "in the right direction".

Some Missoula-area healthcare professionals told Senator Jon Tester on Tuesday morning that they're worried Congress may be making a "rush to judgment" in trying to completely revamp the healthcare industry so quickly.

Those observations came as Tester held meetings with administrators, physicians, nurses and managers at St. Patrick Hospital and Community Medical Center in Missoula.

The hour-long meetings were part of a fact-finding effort by Montana's junior senator to learn more about the issues impacting healthcare as the Senate gears up for a possible reform bill this fall.

Administrators at Community Medical Center told Tester they're concerned lawmakers' focus seems to have shifted primarily to making insurance reforms, as opposed to taking the opportunity for more fundamental changes to benefit the entire healthcare system.

They urged him to make sure overall reforms can be addressed now, instead of just "how everyone gets paid".

Other topics discussed during the sessions included cost controls, revising standards for federal money to help small hospitals implement electronic records, and incentive programs to help nurses get better training in basic skills.

Tester tells Montana's News Station he's waiting to hold town hall meetings on healthcare reform until there is specific legislation introduced before the Senate, so that public dialog can be more focused.

- Dennis Bragg reporting from KPAX in Missoula