Health Care Reform: The Road Ahead

• On July 11, 2012, I voted to repeal President Obama's controversial health care law.
• I voted for repeal – just like I voted against the original bill – for the following reasons:
   
• Spends $1.8 trillion between 2012-2022 (double the original estimate)
• Raises premiums by as much as $2,100 for families
• Imposes more than $569 billion in new taxes on employers, businesses, individuals, and families
• Eliminates up to 800,000 jobs
• Forces up to 20 million individuals off their employer-based coverage
• Puts more than 16 million new individuals on government run Medicaid and requires states to pick up a portion of the costs beginning in 2017
• Cuts more than $500 billion in Medicare including more than $200 billion to Medicare Advantage program – impacting more than 20,000 individuals in Eastern Washington
• Deliberately fails to address current cost drivers in the health care system including the Medicare sustainable growth rate mechanism –  which would add an additional $320 billion in costs if addressed
• Fails to adequately prevent taxpayer funds from being used for abortions (federal appellate court decisions have consistently applied Roe v. Wade principles to federal legislation authorizing abortion unless explicitly prohibited by Congress. That is why the Hyde Amendment was created)
• Bans the private sector from the student loan industry

The health care law was signed by President Obama on March 23, 2010.  Days later, he signed a “Reconciliation” bill that made a few adjustments to the original bill (Click here to read the original billand click here to read the Reconciliation bill).  The original bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 219-212.  I voted “no” (click here to watch my House floor speech). To read a summary of the bill, click here.

I supported and advocated a better health care bill that would do the following…

Lower health care premiums. The GOP plan will lower health care premiums for American families and small businesses, addressing Americans’ number-one priority for health care reform.

Establish Universal Access Programs to guarantee access to affordable health care for those with pre-existing conditions. The GOP plan creates Universal Access Programs that expand and reform high-risk pools and reinsurance programs to guarantee that all Americans, regardless of pre-existing conditions or past illnesses, have access to affordable care – while lowering costs for all Americans.

End junk lawsuits. The GOP plan would help end costly junk lawsuits and curb defensive medicine by enacting medical liability reforms modeled after the successful state laws of California and Texas.

Prevent insurers from unjustly cancelling a policy. The GOP plan prohibits an insurer from cancelling a policy unless a person commits fraud or conceals material facts about a health condition.

Encourage Small Business Health Plans. The GOP plan gives small businesses the power to pool together and offer health care at lower prices, just as corporations and labor unions do.

Encourage innovative state programs. The GOP plan rewards innovation by providing incentive payments to states that reduce premiums and the number of uninsured.

Allow Americans to buy insurance across state lines.The GOP plan allows Americans to shop for coverage from coast to coast by allowing Americans living in one state to purchase insurance in another.

Promote healthier lifestyles. The GOP plan promotes prevention & wellness by giving employers greater flexibility to financially reward employees who adopt healthier lifestyles.

Enhance Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). The GOP plan creates new incentives to save for current and future health care needs by allowing qualified participants to use HSA funds to pay premiums for high deductible health insurance.

Allow dependents to remain on their parents’ policies. The GOP plan encourages coverage of young adults on their parents’ insurance through age 25.

To read the full GOP plan, click here.

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  Frequently Asked Questions

   

  Where can I find a schedule of when the bill’s tax and spending changes will take effect?

   

  For a one page summary click here.

   

  For a more detailed report click here.

   

  Why was passing the health care bill so complicated?

   

  The Heritage Foundation explains here.               

   

  Where can I express my opinion?

   

  I'd love to hear your thoughts on health care or any issue before Congress.  Please email me or call my office at 509-353-2374.

   

  Where can I get updates on health care issues?

   

  Sign up for my e-newsletter on my homepage.

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