Focus on Health Care
Health Care Reform that Offers More Choice, Lowers Costs and Improves Access
Our nation has a good health care system - our doctors, nurses and hospitals provide an unparalleled level of care. Like most Americans, I also believe improvements must be made. Americans deserve the care they need when they need it – at a cost they can afford. For too many, this is not the reality. I have put together this page to explain what is happening in Congress regarding health care reform, what the Democrat proposals are, what my alternative plans are, and what you can do to make your voice heard in the debate.
H.R. 3962 - The Pelosi Health Care Bill
Legislation was recently introduced in Congress to make sweeping changes to our health care system. Unfortunately, the House plan is a massive government takeover of health care that would increase taxes, eliminate choices, cut Medicare, force Americans out of their current plans, put federal bureaucrats between you and your doctor, place billion dollar mandates and fines on small businesses and increase costs.
New Government Programs Created in H.R. 3962
This legislation will cost more than $1.3 trillion, will raise taxes by nearly $800 billion, will cut roughly $500 billion from Medicare, and will reduce choice and limit access to care for millions of Americans.
Information About the Pelosi Health Care Bill
Read the Bill
Read a Summary of the Bill
New Bureaucracies Created in the Democrat Bill
Health Care Bill - By the Numbers
Commonsense Health Reform Solutions for America
There is a better way. Rather than a $1.3 trillion government takeover of health care that will increase the budget deficit, raise billions in taxes and cut Medicare, I believe reform must focus on putting patients first and lowering costs.
To lower costs, we must increase choices and put more purchasing power in the hands of patients. You should be allowed the same tax benefits employers currently receive for purchasing health insurance. Tax-free health savings accounts should be expanded – not eliminated. Whether you move jobs or move states, health savings accounts travel with you. They should be a part of any reform plan.
Rather than penalizing already-struggling small businesses with the new taxes and mandates costing billions in the House bill, we must make it easier for them to offer health benefits. Small businesses should be allowed to band together and purchase health insurance at the same rates that big corporations can.
Stopping lawsuit abuse has the potential to save billions in health care costs each year. Frivolous lawsuits that drive up costs for everyone and drive doctors out of medicine must be limited.
Waste, fraud and abuse must be eliminated. Regulations must be reduced so that doctors and nurses can focus on patients not paperwork. Preventative care and home health care, which save money in the long-run, must also be priorities.
Implementing a government-run health care system will force many Washingtonians out of their current health plan, cost you more and force some of you onto a one-size-fits-all government run program. We need reform, but Congress must remember the words of the Hippocratic Oath; first do no harm.
Read About Republican Health Care Solutions
Legislation I Have Co-Sponsored This Congress
Expand access to health coverage:
- H.R. 3610: This bill would extend tax deductibility to those looking to purchase health insurance on the individual market to make health insurance more affordable for those who cannot purchase coverage through their employer. Right now, this is only provided to those who purchase coverage through their employer. The bill also contains a number of provisions to expand Health Savings Accounts, which give people control over their health care spending, by making them more economical for families.
- H.R. 1203: This bill would allow federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums on a pretax basis and create a deduction for TRICARE supplemental premiums, making health insurance more affordable for these retirees.
Expand access to health services:
- H.R. 914: This bill would establish a loan program for rural hospitals to establish medical residency programs. Since most doctors end up practicing in the community where they serve their residency, this will help attract doctors to rural underserved areas.
- H.R. 2443: This bill would improve Medicare reimbursement rates for rural ambulance services to ensure that seniors in rural areas retain access to these life-saving services.
- H.R. 2220: This bill would provide grants to dental organizations to help them provide free dental services to underserved low-income populations.
Lower Health Care Costs:
- H.R. 1086: This bill would end lawsuit abuse within the medical community, a practice that drives up the cost of health care for everyone. Specifically, the bill limits noneconomic damages in medical malpractice lawsuits to $250,000.
- H.R. 1298: This bill would allow individuals to import cheaper prescription drugs from Canada so that Americans can have more choices to purchase the medication they need at a more affordable price.
One-Page Summaries of How the Pelosi Health Bill Will Affect America
Affect on Businesses
Affect on Low-Income Households
Affect on Patients and Doctors
Affect on Rural America
Affect on Seniors
Affect on States
Affect on Women and Families
Affect on Young Americans