Editor's note: Due to a production error, only part of this story was published in Sunday's Tribune.

Like many people, Sharon Brundle has issues with America's health care system.

A few weeks ago, Brundle was rushed to an emergency room with a broken rib and fluid in her lungs. Her condition was stabilized, and she was sent home, but the Draper resident must wait until June to see a lung specialist who can treat her injury.

"At what point do people matter to other people?" she asked Saturday during a community dialogue on health care in America. "What is the value of a human life?"

That may be the ultimate question facing Citizens' Health Care Working Group, a nonpartisan group charged with listening to the views of the American people and developing health care recommendations for President Bush and Congress.

The group has spent the past five months traveling to three-dozen U.S. cities to gather consumer opinions on how best to overhaul the system that in 2004 cost the country $1.9 trillion, or about $6,300 per person. In 10 years, health care costs are expected to rise to $11,000 per person.

The 15-member Working Group has two Utah members: Brent James, a physician and vice president of Intermountain Health Care; and Secretary of Health and Human Services and former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt. James was present Saturday.

The Utah forum attracted about 100 people, including medical professionals, insurance executives and ordinary people. The group spent four hours trying to answer four questions:

l What health care benefits and services should Americans receive?

l How should services be delivered?

l How should it be financed?

l And what would Americans be willing to pay - or give up - to get it?

The majority of Utah participants, like their counterparts elsewhere, want a more efficient system where all Americans are covered and have access to quality - and timely - medical care. Most people said everyone should contribute something to the cost, and they said it should be based on a graduated scale according to income.

Not surprisingly, consumers want to be able to choose their own doctors from a pool of quality providers and if a doctor recommends a certain procedure or drug, then an insurance company should not be able to override the recommendation.

"Every person ought to have a chance to get the care they need to be as healthy as they can be," said Karen Silver. "They shouldn't be pushed out because of race or income."

The system should also be less complicated.

"I've had to spend entire days on the telephone talking to doctors' offices and insurance companies trying to get things worked out," said Christine Evans, of Tooele.

Evans' 6-year-old daughter, Camryn, has epilepsy and cerebral palsy, and she says, "Luck and who you know has a lot to do with the kind of health care access you get."

Participants were asked to vote, with a special electronic keypad, on the best ways to reduce health care costs.

Eliminating pharmaceutical advertising, letting consumers know the price of medical procedures and investing in more preventive care were thought to be the most cost- effective.

Opinions were divided on whether a health care system should be public or private, although several people liked the idea of creating an independent commission - similar to the Federal Reserve Board that overseas banking - to oversee the health care industry.

The Utah comments will be pooled with responses from other cities to create a preliminary report, expected to be out after June 1. The public will have 90 days to respond and make suggestions before a final report will be written and submitted to Congress.

kathys@sltrib.com

Comment online

People who did not attend the Citizens' Health Care Working Group workshop but still want their comments to be heard can visit the group's Web site at http://www .citizenshealthcare.gov. The site includes discussion forums, blogs and a comment center.