Every American is impacted by the health care system. The fierce debate over the recently passed health care package – both in Congress and in communities throughout the country – shows just how passionately people feel about this issue. One thing is clear: Some reform is necessary. America spends more than $2.1 trillion per year on healthcare, nearly 16% of our GDP. Medical costs are rising at 6.7% per year, faster than the rate of inflation, and families are undoubtedly feeling this pain as they see insurance premiums rise year after year.
I strongly believe that the recently passed legislation is the wrong prescription for our health care system. Worse, the American people, and in many cases members of Congress themselves, have little understanding of what this legislation actually means for our health care system and their individual care. Many common-sense solutions offered by Republicans were discarded by Democrats in their haste to pass some sort of legislation and claim success.
The reality is, this legislation will force between 9 and 10 million Americans off their employment-based insurance plans while lowering our quality of care. Small businesses – the backbone of our economy – are saddled with higher health care costs for employees along with costly new regulatory mandates. The legislation is much too expensive and will not only steadily increase taxes on the middle class, but also add to an already unsustainable Federal debt.
What can we do now that the bill is passed and the Democrats control the Senate and hold veto power in the White House? As Congressman, along with my Republican colleagues, I am pursuing common-sense amendments to the legislation, such as voting for the repeal of the costly and burdensome 1099 reporting requirement. While the members of the U.S. House of Representatives are unable to force a total repeal of the legislation, removing some of its more troubling components in the meantime will reduce costs and improve the quality of health care that every American receives.
As a defense against potential lawsuits, it has become normal for American doctors to perform a battery of excess tests and procedures. The fear of unchecked lawsuits causes tremendous waste of resources and medical expertise. A recent study by the Massachusetts Medical Society found the cost of ‘defensive’ medicine – tests, procedures, referrals, hospitalizations, or prescriptions ordered by physicians fearful of lawsuits – is huge and widespread. This lawsuit culture must be changed to protect the solvency of our healthcare system.
In nearly every other sector of the economy, consumers are free to choose across state lines and companies are free to market across state lines. That this principle does apply to our health care system is harmful. Simply offering choice across state lines would expand the choices available to consumers and increase the competition for each insurer, thereby driving down prices and improving service.
Today it is nearly impossible to compare health care price, outcomes, and effectiveness. The current system does not encourage providers to report data with any kind of consistency, complicating any "apples-to-apples" comparisons the diligent consumer wishes to make. At the very least, we must require greater transparency of pricing and outcomes data.
The debate about American health care is far from over. We must push for changes to the current law to ensure access to care, while also controlling costs for individuals and companies and ensuring quality care for every American.
