Steve Buyer RSS Articles

Congressman Buyer: Medicare Should Reimburse Physicians Fairly

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Steve Buyer (IN-04) supports improving seniors’ access to doctors and physician payments in a fiscally responsible manner. Congressman Buyer believes that Medicare should reimburse physicians fairly to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries have access to the health care they need. The Congressman voted in favor of the Republican alternative to the Democrat’s “Doc Fix” legislation, H.R. 3961, the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act. The Republican alternative would erase the scheduled cuts to Medicare physician payments over the next four years while protecting our economy from further deficit spending.

“It is time Congress fully address the issue of the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula, which physician payments are based on,” stated Buyer. “I whole-heartedly support a permanent fix to physicians’ reimbursement from Medicare but it needs to be done without adding to the nation’s ballooning debt. The Democrats’ “Doc Fix” would add nearly $300 billion to the federal debt and falls short of its goals to identify a revenue source and to repeal the Sustainable Growth Rate in the legislation.”

The Republican alternative, which Congressman Buyer voted for, would provide physicians with a two percent Medicare payment rate increase in each of the next 4 years, erase the scheduled 21 percent cut in 2010 and the roughly 5 percent cuts in 2011, 2012, and 2013, and implement comprehensive, meaningful medical liability reform—ending junk lawsuits and costly defensive medicine—bringing down physicians’ costs.

Additionally, Congressman Buyer is a co-sponsor to the Medicare SGR Improvement and Reform Act of 2009, H.R. 4138, which is identical to the Republican alternative. H.R. 4138 was introduced by Congressman Gingrey (R-GA).

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Spirit of Thanks

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

As the holidays draw closer, we are reminded of the spirit of thankfulness that accompanies the season. I would like to wish all Hoosiers a safe and Happy Thanksgiving, and encourage everyone, as Americans, to reflect on the many things that we have to be thankful for this year.

Americans enjoy liberties that are often scarce in other parts of the world; freedoms that allow us to speak freely, worship openly, and defend ourselves from harm, bestowed upon us through our beloved Constitution. Despite all of the challenges that we are faced with today, America is a strong nation because of the brilliance of our Founding Fathers and because we are blessed to have dedicated men and women of the Armed Services defending the product of their inspiration.

As this Thanksgiving approaches, I offer my sincerest thank you to all of our servicemembers, our nation’s veterans, and to their families and loved ones who have endured their absences for the safety and sustainability of our nation. Enjoy this special Holiday with family and friends and remember to take time to give thanks.

Improving the Nation’s Health Care System without Government Taking over 1/6 of the Economy

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The President and Democrat leadership in Congress are not listening. The U.S. unemployment rate has surged to 10.2 percent, the highest level in 26 years. This astounding level of unemployment only tells part of the story about struggling, average Americans that Washington leaders have ignored.

A deeper look at the unemployment numbers reveal the true cost of the Obama-Pelosi economic policies, especially for the nation’s most vulnerable people, is an unemployment rate of 17.5%. This rate takes into consideration those currently unemployed, those who are unable to find adequate work and those who have simply lost all hope and have given up looking for a job.

We must focus on the economy first. We should start by cutting government spending to shore up the U.S. dollar, encourage job creation in the private sector, and increase private investment. We should rely on proven methods to get our economy back on track such as immediate tax relief—decreasing the capital gains tax and reducing the tax burdens on small businesses.

We are living with an economy in disrepair as we face a two-front war. The President needs to address the economy and, as Commander in Chief, he needs to make a strategic decision on Afghanistan. Instead, our President and Democrat leadership are jamming legislation through Congress with massive spending, government control of businesses, and job-destroying taxes and regulations; all while leaving our troops in limbo in Afghanistan. Washington has its priorities all wrong.

Unfortunately, President Obama and Speaker Pelosi insist on addressing global warming and government controlled health care. In response, I voted against the job killing cap and trade legislation and support the Republican plan to improve our nation’s health care. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) reports the Republican alternative would reduce health insurance premiums. Under the Republican plan, health insurance premiums would cost Americans nearly $5,000 less than the least costly option under Speaker Pelosi’s plan—without the government taking over 1/6 of our nation’s economy.

The Democrat proposal could cause up to 114 million Americans to lose the private health insurance that they enjoy. Also, CBO found that the House Democrats’ bill will make health insurance more expensive than it is now, raising insurance premiums about 30 percent more than currently projected by the year 2016. While I appreciate that most of my amendments to protect veterans were incorporated in the bill, I will oppose this overall government intrusion into our personal lives.

We must focus on the uninsured and the uninsurable. The Republican health care plan does just that by creating new health insurance options for small businesses—the economic engines of our economy—enacting real medical liability reform so that physicians can continue to focus on their patients and not junk lawsuits, guaranteeing affordable health insurance for individuals with preexisting conditions, protecting seniors’ Medicare benefits, and lowering health care premiums for all Americans.

Our nation’s health care system can be improved without increasing taxes and jeopardizing the jobs we still have in America. The President and Democrat leadership in Congress must reorganize their priorities. They must stop focusing on job-killing policies and fix our economy first.

HOUSE DEMOCRATS PASS GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF NATION’S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM;

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. — Democrat Leaders in Washington have called health care reform a national priority requiring the best minds to solve, but on Saturday the U.S. House of Representatives passed a sweeping, government run health care bill, H.R. 3962. The legislation allows the government to take control of one-sixth of the American economy, calling into question the true intent of the bill: an effort to reform our nation’s health care system or partisan legislation designed to expand the federal government’s presence in Americans’ everyday lives. Opposed to the Washington take over of health care, Congressman Steve Buyer’s (IN-04) supported the Republican alternative to H.R. 3962, the Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute—legislation focused on lowering health care costs without adding a dime to the nation’s growing deficit.

“The President and Democrat leadership in Congress are not listening to their constituencies. The U.S. unemployment rate has surged to 10.2 percent, the highest level in 26 years. This astounding level of unemployment tells only part of the story about the struggling American families that Washington leaders continue to ignore,” stated Buyer. “It simply is not credible to ask the American people to believe we are spending over one trillion dollars on a government health care plan that is budget neutral. The question Hoosiers need to ask is, ‘Who pays?’ The simple fact is that middle class families and small businesses, which just financed an 800 billion dollar Wall Street slush fund, will be paying over one trillion dollars to fund legislation that will increase the cost of health care in America.

“We need health care reform that works for all Hoosiers and provides real help regarding access and cost. People on both sides of the aisle agree that we need to improve access and costs. However, our current government programs, Social Security and Medicare, are in financial despair. Instead of working to fix these programs and ensure that they can continue to provide for future generations of seniors, the Democrat leadership is committed to creating another entitlement program and placing trillions of dollars in debt on the backs of our children and grandchildren,” Buyer said.

Congressman Buyer said Washington traditionally has a poor history of cost containment, “It is pure fantasy to think this bill does not raise costs on small businesses and middle class families. The non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation says that 1 out of every 3 dollars raised by the surtax in H.R. 3962 will come from small businesses—the economic engines of our economy. The bill fails to reign in out-of-control health care spending and to address the concerns that families and businesses across America have with the sharply increasing costs of health insurance.”

H.R. 3962 will significantly impact seniors’ health care choices. “This bill cuts Medicare. Seniors rely upon this program and it is wrong for Washington to take hundreds of billions of dollars out of it to fund a new government program that is expected to serve less than 2 percent of the population. Those of us who represent rural areas understand the choices of benefits that seniors in Medicare Advantage enjoy, and Congress should not limit seniors access to health care programs in order to fund the more 100 new government bureaucracies and programs created in H.R. 3962.”

“Hoosiers deserve adequate health care coverage. The creation of a government-run insurance program that could cause as many as 114 million Americans to lose their current coverage, as written in H.R. 3962, lacks sound policies which ensure families can keep their current health insurance if they like it,” stated Buyer. “Congress should focus on fixing what is wrong with the nation’s health care delivery system first: providing coverage to the uninsured, protecting Americans living with preexisting conditions, encouraging preventive care, promoting wellness programs, protecting the patient-doctor relationship, and making health insurance more affordable for all Americans.”

The House Democrat plan was drafted behind closed doors with little input from the public or most Members of Congress. The bill is nearly 2000 pages and combines, provisions of H.R. 3200 approved by the Committees on Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means earlier this summer. The bulk of the bill ignited a summer of emotional town hall meetings across the country where large numbers of people rose in opposition to the government-run insurance plan.

Congressman Buyer understands that substantive reforms are needed to improve the nation’s health care system. Such reforms include lowering health care premiums, guarantying access to affordable care for those with pre-existing conditions, preventing insurance companies from unjustly cancelling policies, and allowing small businesses to pool together to offer health care at lower prices to their employees. These provisions are included in the House Republicans’ health care reform legislation, H.R. 4038, the Common Sense Healthcare Reform and Affordability Act, which was the only Republican amendment allowed consideration on the House floor. The measure failed by a vote of 176 to 258. Congressman Buyer is a cosponsor of this legislation and voted in favor of its passage on the House floor.

“If Medicare is the model for government-health care, how can the White House and House Democrats tell us that their health care plan will not increase our deficit in the long-run? In 1965, the government promised that Medicare Part A would cost $9 billion by 1990. The actual cost was $66 billion, over seven times the projected cost. The Democrats’ health care plan is deceptive. It begins raising taxes and cutting Medicare immediately, while the majority of benefits don’t begin until 2016, and their true cost is not realized until 2019. The Democrats’ plan is to tax first and pay later.” When the bill is fully implemented, the cost will amount to $2.4 trillion over ten years.

Speaker Pelosi’s bill, H.R. 3962 will cut $500 billion from the Medicare program and impose $135 billion in taxes on employers and $33 billion in taxes on individuals. $162 billion are raised from cuts to the Medicare Advantage programs which serve 126,000 Hoosiers and nearly 11 million Americans Since 2004, enrollment in these programs in rural areas has grown significantly—since 2004 over one million beneficiaries in rural areas joined the MA program (a 507 percent increase).

“There are improvements that can be made to Medicare Advantage, but I believe it is an important private market innovation within the Medicare program—providing important health coverage options to seniors,” Buyer added. “If these cuts are enacted, tens of thousands of seniors in Indiana would stand to lose their Medicare Advantage coverage.”

Additionally, as Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Congressman Buyer worked to ensure that veterans’ and servicemembers’ health care choices and benefits were not harmed by H.R. 3962. Previous amendments to protect veterans were incorporated in the bill; however not all concerns were addressed. The Congressman offered three amendments relating to veterans and servicemembers. The first would ensure that veterans and servicemembers have the choice to obtain health insurance in the insurance exchange created by H.R. 3962. The second would preserve the authorities of the Secretaries of Veterans’ Affairs and the Department of Defense over their respective health care systems. The third amendment would allow veterans and servicemembers, just like all Americans, to receive tax credits to purchase insurance if they live below 400% of the federal poverty level. All three of these amendments were rejected by the Committee on Rules and were not considered on the House Floor.

Congressman Buyer also continued his efforts to expand employer sponsored wellness programs by offering an amendment to provide employers with greater flexibility to increase incentives for employees to participate in wellness programs. Such programs have been successful in lowering health care costs for employers and employees alike while encouraging healthy behaviors. Amendments similar to Congressman Buyer’s have received strong bipartisan support in the Senate. Unfortunately, the Committee on Rules denied Congressman Buyer the chance to bring his amendment to the House Floor. “If we are serious about bending our nation’s health care cost curve, we should be employing commonsense proposals like wellness programs which have successfully saved companies millions of dollars in health care costs. .

Only two amendments were accepted by the Committee on Rules for consideration on the House floor: the Pitts/Stupak amendment to prohibit taxpayer-funded abortion and the Republican health care reform proposal. Congressman Buyer voted in favor of both amendments.

Congressman Buyer voted against H.R. 3962 which passed the House by a vote 220 to 215 and continues to oppose a government takeover of our nation’s health care system.

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Congress Needs to Focus on Covering the Uninsured and Lowering Health Care Costs

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

I support covering the uninsured and lowering the cost of health care for all Americans, but I disagree with arbitrarily scrapping the health coverage that 68 percent of Americans already have and rate as good or excellent. Congress must focus on the part of our health care system that needs real reform and on helping the approximately 10 million uninsured Americans.

I continue to support initiatives to allow Americans to purchase health insurance across state lines, to give Americans on Medicaid and SCHIP the ability to use premium assistance to purchase private health insurance instead of participating in limited government-run options, to allow employers to provide tax-free defined contributions to workers’ individually purchased health insurance policies, and to help Americans enroll in health insurance that they are eligible to receive. In order to support these initiatives, last week I co-sponsored the Improved Access to Employer Financed Health Insurance Act, the Medicaid and SCHIP Beneficiary Choice Improvement Act, the Expanded Health Insurance Options Act, and the Encourage Enrollment in Employer-Sponsored Insurance Act.

Additionally, I continue to push for the expansion of employer-sponsored wellness programs, and joined Congressman Michael Arcuri (D-NY) in introducing bipartisan legislation, H.R. 3688, that would provide employers with greater flexibility in offering wellness programs. Such programs help employees and businesses save money while promoting healthy behaviors.

The idea to expand wellness programs has continued to gain momentum since the House Energy and Commerce Committee (of which I am a Member) considered H.R. 3200, the health reform bill proposed by the Democrat House leadership. During the Committee’s consideration of H.R. 3200, I offered an amendment nearly identical to H.R. 3688, and it was surprisingly defeated by the Democrats in the Committee. However, both the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions accepted amendments similar to H.R. 3688, lending greater support to the measure.

Wellness programs have been used by companies across the U.S. to greatly decrease health care costs for employers and employees while incentivizing individuals to lead healthier lives.

Congress needs to focus on lowering health care costs and improving the access of health care for all Americans. We must focus on the issues that really need reform and that will help Hoosiers, and all Americans, the most.

CONGRESSMAN BUYER PRAISES THE SYNCHRONIZATION OF THE VA AND U.S. OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, D.C. —Congressman Steve Buyer (IN-04), in continuing his leadership of sports therapy as a platform for rehabilitation, attended the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) and the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) on Wednesday. This declaration synchronizes the VA and the U.S. Olympic Committee, promoting opportunities for disabled veterans and bringing rehabilitative sports programming to families and communities across the country.

Congressman Buyer, Ranking Member on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, recognizes the value sports can hold for chair-bound veterans and for all Americans living with spinal cord-related disabilities. In 2007, the Ranking Member introduced legislation to bolster VA’s adaptive sports programs to help those challenged by disabilities. The bill was later included as a provision in the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2008. This legislation authorized today’s agreement between the VA and the USOC, providing $8 million in annual grant support to ensure that disabled veterans have access to sport therapy programs. Additionally, $2 million in direct support will be available for injured servicemembers seeking competitive sport opportunities.

“Collaboration between the VA, USOC, Paralympics and Veteran organizations is critical to ensure injured Veterans have the opportunity to participate in physical activity at the community level. Congressmen Buyer has been an outstanding leader in ensuring that this happens, and that resources are available to meet the need,” stated Charlie Hueber, Chief of Paralympics, U.S. Olympic Committee.

The Congressman’s long-time advocacy of sports therapy brought the VA and the USOC together to allow disabled veterans to compete in the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing. Without Congressman Buyer’s efforts, the 13 veterans that competed in Beijing in September of 2008 would not have had that opportunity.

“Years ago I had the privilege of visiting the U.S. Olympic Committee training center in Chula Vista, California; I saw first-hand how athletes sacrifice for the Olympic ideal. After helping reorganize the U.S. Olympic Committee, I brought together the USOC and the VA to create an avenue for disabled military athletes to compete in the 2008 Beijing Paralympics games. So this is a very exciting day for me to stand, as I witness, the signing agreement between the VA and USOC. The synchronization of these two organizations will help provide one of the most valuable rehabilitative therapies we can to our wounded warriors,” praised Buyer. “The qualities of the heart and mind translated into other areas of life often lead to great success and accomplishments, and I am excited about this milestone in veteran rehabilitation.”

In September 2008, the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) awarded Congressman Buyer with the Paralyzed Veterans of America Public Service Award for his long-time advocacy of sports therapy as an alternative avenue of inspiration helping wounded warriors rehabilitate from their injuries. In 2005, the Congressman was also instrumental in facilitating a partnership between VA and the U.S. Olympic Committee—promoting opportunities for disabled veterans to participate in adaptive sports programs.

“I have great faith in the power of sports to be a platform of inspiration and healing for the men and women who have sacrificed for our country,” said Buyer. “Increasing the availability of disabled sports programs is just one more resource to speed recovery and bring the positive attitudes and values I saw at the training center. I am sure we can do more, and I look forward to working toward new ways of improving the lives of disabled veterans through sports.”
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BUYER: NATION’S MILITARY AND NATIONAL DEFENSE TAKES PRECEDENCE

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, DC—On June 25, 2009, the House of Representatives passed a clean, NationalDefense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2010 by a vote 389-22, which Congressman Steve Buyer (IN-04) supported. However, when the measure was considered by the Senate, Democrat leaders added controversial language, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, H.R. 1913, to the final version of the bill which was included in the conference report. Congressman Buyer opposed the NDAA Conference Report because of those misplaced partisan provisions and is disappointed that Democrats would use this bill as a vehicle for their agenda and detract from legislation meant to support the men and women serving to protect the nation.

“At a time when our country is fighting a two-front war, my Democrat colleagues believed it to be more prudent to sign into law partisan and divisive hate crimes legislation rather than to ensure that our men and women are adequately taken care of in the field. I am disappointed and again surprised by the misplaced priorities of the Democrat leadership in Congress. National defense and providing adequately for the nation’s military should be a top priority,” stated Buyer. “My no vote supports the values, goals, and mission of the United States military.”

Congressman Buyer went on to say that, “Every citizen has equal rights under the jurisdiction of the law. I do not believe that Congress should create protected groups and then treat the crimes committed against the victims of these protected groups more seriously than crimes committed against another citizen—especially when Congress is considering the business of the nation’s military and defense system.”

“I am very bothered by that fact that I had to vote against the National Defense Authorization Act for the sole purpose that the hate crimes legislation was added last minute. I supported the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act which passed in June. I fail to understand why Congress insists on playing political games,” stated Buyer.

The NDAA Conference Report passed the House of Representatives by a vote 281 to 146.
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CONGRESSMAN BUYER: ROBUST AND LAWFUL MARKET COMPETITION

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, DC—Congressman Steve Buyer (IN-04) spearheaded a bipartisan letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) formally requesting an investigation into the nature and function of Google Inc.’s voice service, Google Voice. The purpose of the letter is to ensure the FCC’s actions render fair, robust and lawful market competition. Congressman Buyer’s signature was joined by 19 Members of Congress in sending the letter to FCC Chairman, Julius Genachowski.

Congressman Buyer released the following statement:

“Consumers benefit from fair competition among service providers and that is the purpose of asking for the investigation into Google Voice. As a Member of the Subcommittee on Telecommunications under the Energy and Commerce Committee, I want to be ensured there is robust and lawful market competition.

For Seventeen years, I have been a champion for new technologies, competition and ensuring those in rural America have the same access as those who live and work in large metropolitan areas. I believe the consumer wins when companies take risks and invest in our nation’s telecommunications infrastructure. We have the best minds in America working for U.S. companies pushing the bounds of technology with new, innovative products, applications and devices, which in the end, make our lives better and business more efficient and cost effective.

As a policy maker, my goal is to help foster competition that results in the best choices for consumers. Concerns arose after media reports confirmed Google maintains it has the right to block calls to certain telephone exchanges because it does not believe Google Voice falls under the jurisdiction of the FCC and specifically the common carrier service. A bipartisan group of my colleagues, and I, are concerned when a service provider unfairly blocks calls to certain exchanges—regardless of the technology used to initiate the call whether it would be web based applications or traditional phone services. Google determined it has the right to unfairly block calls to certain exchanges for many reasons, including the avoidance of access charges. As a result, 19 colleagues from both sides of the aisle have asked the FCC to look into this matter and clarify if such applications like Google Voice fall under the jurisdiction of the FCC and common carrier service.”
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CONGRESSMAN BUYER: NATIONALIZING HOOSIER PORK CONCERNS

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, DC— Congressman Steve Buyer (IN-04) joined other Members of Congress in sending a bipartisan letter to the Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, asking him to take actions in providing “much-needed emergency relief to the [U.S. pork] industry.” The letter outlined the grave economic losses the U.S. pork industry has experienced over the past two years, which has been exacerbated by the H1N1 viral outbreak.

“Indiana is the fifth largest producer of pork in the country. I have heard first hand from Hoosier farmers how this economic crisis has affected them as well, as thousands of rural jobs and businesses,” stated Buyer.

The letter asks Secretary Vilsack to purchase an additional $100 million of pork for multiple federal food programs. Additionally, the letter gives emphasis on purchasing meat from sows for the purpose of reducing the number of hogs on the market. A combination of declines in exports and higher pork production has left the U.S. supply anywhere from 3 to 7 percent higher than was expected when H1N1 became an issue.

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CONGRESSMAN BUYER: WELLNESS PROGRAMS AT THE FOREFRONT OF HEALTH REFORM DEBATE

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, DC— Congressman Steve Buyer’s (IN-04) persistence to expand employer-sponsored wellness programs continues. In July, during the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s consideration of the Democrat health bill, H.R. 3200, an amendment offered by Congressman Buyer to give employers greater ability to expand wellness programs and encourage healthy behaviors—while decreasing employees’ health care costs—was surprisingly defeated by Democrats in the Committee. Wellness programs continue to gain momentum through the introduction of H.R. 3688 by Congressman Buyer and his Democrat colleague, Michael Arcuri (NY)—a bipartisan bill expanding these programs. Subsequently, on Wednesday night, the Senate Finance Committee overwhelmingly passed an amendment that mirrors the Arcuri-Buyer bill to promote these wellness programs which Buyer has championed. “There are many paths to success,” stated Buyer.

H.R. 3688 is nearly identical to an amendment offered by Congressman Buyer on July 31, 2009, during the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s consideration of H.R. 3200, the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act. The bill also mirrors legislation passed in both the Senate Committee on Finance and Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. While the Buyer amendment was not adopted by the Energy and Commerce Committee, the Congressman emphasizes that the Senate action on this issue, combined with the introduction of H.R. 3688, shows that wellness programs remain at the forefront of the health reform debate.

“I support health care policies that encourage individuals to make healthy choices such as controlling their weight, ending their tobacco use, and managing their diabetes,” said Buyer. “Wellness programs have been used by companies across the U.S. to greatly decrease health care costs for employers and employees while improving individuals’ health. I am encouraged by the growing support in Congress to expand these programs, and I look forward to working with Congressman Arcuri to move H.R. 3688 forward in the health reform debate. Healthy people have lower health care costs, and H.R. 3688 would give people greater incentives to make healthy decisions which will save them, their families, and our country money.”

“The wellness programs that I have introduced and continue to support would create opportunities for businesses to develop ways to improve employees’ health, avoid preventable heath conditions, increase our nation’s productivity, and decrease costs for both employers and employees,” commented Buyer. “This policy continues to gain momentum.”
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