Health Care
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Health Care America's Health Care Reform Our nation's health care delivery system is the best in the world. We have the best medicines, the best medical professionals, the best medical devices and the best research and development all of which play unique rolls to improve and extend lives far beyond what was imaginable a generation ago. I have listened to countless Hoosiers confirm that Congress needs to build upon what works and improve what does not. I look forward to ensuring these priorities are met while protecting American jobs and turning America's out-of-control health care spending around This year, the House Democrat leadership proposed health reform legislation (H.R. 3200) which could cost as much as $3.4 trillion dollars over the first ten years, should it be implemented. And, if history serves as a reference, a new government-run health care program would cost far more than any projected costs. Take, for instance, the Medicare program. In 1965, the government promised that Medicare Part A (which pays for hospital care) would cost $9 billion by 1990; the actual cost was $66 billion-over 7 times the projected cost. An even greater miscalculation: Medicare Part B (which pays for physician services) ended up costing our nation 4300% more than Congress initially projected. Today, our national debt eclipses $11 trillion…approximately $37,600 for every man, woman, and child in America. Congress must address this growing debt, and it is unconscionable that the Democrat leadership would push a new job-killing government program at a time when nearly 10% of Americans are unemployed and the unemployment rate continues to climb. The House Democrat Health Reform bill could cost our nation as many as 4.7 million jobs. And, even with the enormous price tag in their bill, the goal of ensuring health coverage for every American is still not realized. We need to address health care spending in our nation, but creating a new government bureaucracy to carry out a government-run health care system will place 1/6 of our nation's economy in the hands of Washington bureaucrats and away from the doctors and patients who should be making health care decisions. Moreover, this government-run scheme includes the formation of a bureaucratic board which will review physician prescribed procedures, therapies or medicines to determine if they are cost effective and worthy of approval. If people thought insurance companies were unresponsive now, just wait until the federal government takes over. Facts About The House Democrats' Health "Reform" Bill (H.R. 3200) > 120 million-Number of individuals who could lose their current coverage as a result of the government-run plan reimbursing at Medicare rates created in the bill. > 4.7 million-Number of jobs that could be lost as a result of taxes on businesses that cannot afford to provide health insurance coverage for their employees. > $1.042 TRILLION-Amount the Congressional Budget Office projects the bill to cost over the first 10 years > 8%-TAX on Employers that can't afford to provide health insurance to their employees (8% payroll tax). > 2.5%-TAX on Americans that do not, or cannot afford to, purchase health insurance. YouTube video: ABC 20/20 Takes on Health Care Reform Business Week: "A Massachusetts Model to Fix Health Care?" By Catherine Arnst, July 27, 2009 The Politico.com - "Key Democratic provisions fading fast", by Carrie Budoff Brown, July 27, 2009 The Washington Post: "Obama's Plan Isn't the Answer", by Martin Feldstein, July 28, 2009 The Washington Post- "Obama's misleading medicine", op-ed by Robert J. Samuelson, July 27, 2009 Politico.com - "CBO deals new blow to health plan", July 25, 2009 The Mayo Clinic Health Policy Blog: "Mayo Clinic’s reaction to House Tri-Committee bill", July 2009 Boston.com article: "Governors worried by healthcare bill costs", July 20, 2009 National Journal Congress Daily AM article, "Physician Unrest Flares Over AMA Stand", July 16, 2009 Today, 8 in 10 Americans are satisfied with the quality of health care they receive and are relatively content with their current expenses. America leads the world in cutting-edge medical technologies and innovations. Americans also enjoy some of the greatest health outcomes in the world. Consider a recent report that found that up to 15,000 British lives could be saved every year if patients in Britain's National Health Service received the same type of quality care that patients in the United States receive. Consider these facts: >> U.S. men have a 5-year cancer survival rate of 66% compared with 47% for European men. >> U.S. women have a 63% chance of living at least 5 years after a cancer diagnosis compared with 56% for European women. >> Dialysis patients in Canada between the years of 2002-04 had to wait 62 days for access in Canada versus 16 days in the U.S. Protect the Doctor-Patient Relationship Under the House Democrat's health reform bill, individuals who enroll in the government-run health plan may be unable to continue seeing the doctors that they trust with their health care today. Because doctors may choose not to participate in the government-run health plan (due to inadequate reimbursements by the government), patients may be forced to search for other physicians and may have trouble finding the care that they need---especially in rural communities. We must give individuals the ability to choose their physician and hospitals. I am a cosponsor of legislation (H.R. 3218) that would provide individuals with refundable tax credits, money that they can use to pay for health insurance that best fits their needs. With this money and choice of insurance, individuals can visit the medical providers that best serve their needs. Ensure Proper Payments to Physicians Today, physicians across the company are closing their doors to new Medicare patients because Medicare simply doesn't pay them enough to cover their costs of providing care to Medicare beneficiaries. For years, I have heard from Indiana doctors who want to see dramatic changes to the Medicare payment system. Unfortunately, the House Democrats have chosen to reform the Medicare payment system by replacing it with another scheme that pits specialties against each other and creates new Medicare spending targets; failing to address the problems with the current system and leaving physicians in doubt of future Medicare payments. Recommended Reads To better understand the complexity and size of the House Democrat's health reform proposal, see the chart below. If you think health care is confusing with your insurance provider now, just wait for the government plan! Chart of the Democrat Health Reform Plan. See also these items: Republican Energy and Commerce Committee Fact Sheets For Doctors- For Hospitals- You can find the House Democrats' Health Reform Legislation by clicking on this line or you may find it at: http://energycommerce.house.gov/ Related Documents:
Press Releases -
Congressman Buyer: Medicare Should Reimburse Physicians Fairly
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