 The health care debate is still ongoing and one Minnesota Senator is hitting the road to find out what's happening in the community. Haiti Clotter shows us how a roundtable discussion is the first step in securing better health care for all. Senator Tony Lorre made a stop in Bemidji to dive into health care and how it affects the region. The discussion is part of his health care roundtable tour. Engaging the people who are actually boots on the ground trying to provide for the health of our people and our communities is just vitally important. Leading health officials and others in the area such as Sanford Health Bemidji Chief Operating Officer Joy Johnson and Beltrami County Administrator Kay Mack were a part of the conversation. Discussions that we can have as a community in a cross-discipline kind of format are always healthy and it's especially healthy when it's someone that has as much impact in the legislature as I know that Senator Lorre has. Bemidji is Senator Lorre's third stop on his 10-city tour. The discussion focused on issues related to chemical dependency and mental health including funding and the availability of beds for patients seeking help. Data practices don't allow for different members of the team to share clinically appropriate information about the health of the patient they're trying, they're together trying to serve and that's a real barrier. Another topic was the city's $2 million grant for the jail diversion project created a few years ago along with the service team to help get inmates healthy. We do as a county face a significant number of our inmates have a prior mental health diagnosis and we want to change that. Senator Lorre says although Bemidji faces challenges when it comes to health care there are solutions set in place and that begins with a stronger workforce. Tech school are partnering with the high schools trying to promote the future workforce for health care again particularly mental health. By 2025, 20% of the United States gross domestic product will be spent on health care according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Senator Lorre says it's important to get this right. People's lives literally depend on it. Senator Lorre made a stop in Fergus Falls tonight and will be in St. Cloud tomorrow. Anyone is welcome to attend the meetings. In Bemidji, Haiti Clouder, Lakeland News. Senator Lorre will take some time off and review feedback from each of his tour stops before continuing to five more cities in October. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.