MASON CITY - Fifty to 60 people were turned away from a health care reform town hall meeting hosted by U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, at North Iowa Area Community College on Friday because of fire code concerns.

So many people came to the meeting that they couldn't all fit into the room at McAllister Hall where it was scheduled.

At one point audience members in the room began to argue with each other.

"I hope no one came to this meeting with the goal of disrupting it," Harkin said, telling the audience to calm down.

Harkin made some remarks before taking questions.

He said health care needs to be reformed because the cost of the current system is expected to double over the next decade.

He said the reform bill out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, of which he is a member, would outlaw discrimination by insurance companies based on pre-existing medical conditions; end exorbitant out-of-pocket expenses; end co-pays for preventative care such as annual physicals or mammograms; and outlaw charging patients more because of their gender.

Harkin also said people would be allowed to keep their current doctor if they want.

Janice Easley of Mason City said she is upset about illegal immigrants being able to walk into a hospital and receive care.

"(President) Obama is nothing more than a snake oil salesman," she said.

Others in the crowd booed and told her to sit down.

Penny Morris of Osage said her son, who is bipolar, wasn't able to get a prescription that he needs filled because he didn't have enough money.

She said he fared better when he was in Taiwan, which has a single-payer health care system, and asked Harkin why that wasn't on the agenda for U.S. health care reform.

Harkin said the single-payer option will be debated on the floor in Congress.

Michael O'Brien of Clear Lake said when he was living in Australia his wife had to spend three months in the hospital because of pregnancy complications and they didn't have to pay for any of it.

Maureen Leighty of Mason City said she read a House bill that called for the insurance industry, doctors and hospitals to take direction from a commission to be appointed by the president.

This is something that should concern both Democrats and Republicans, according to Leighty.

"I think people should have some concerns that a panel is going to be directing all these sections of health care," she said.

Leighty also said many people want to educate themselves about health care reform issues, but it is difficult because there is so much information out there.

"Bring us a bill we can all read and understand," she said. "I want to make my own decisions."

When asked about the possibility of tort reform, Harkin said he is open to suggestions, but doesn't want people to lose their constitutional right to go to court.

When asked about the controversial proposal for end-of-life counseling, Harkin said the amendment for this in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee bill was proposed by the Republican side.

He said the counseling is for issues such as living wills and power of attorney, and is entirely voluntary.

"No one is going to force anyone to do anything," Harkin said.