Health Care Reform
Health Care Reform Although the Supreme Court has ruled the individual mandate is constitutional, I strongly believe that the health care bill was a mistake and that it will adversely affect health care for most of the people in our area and around the country. The new taxes, such as the one on medical devices, the Medicare cuts, and the mandates will mean higher premiums for everyone and more difficulty in finding providers. Therefore, I support repealing that bill and starting over. The cost of health care and of health insurance is still too expensive for too many Americans. At the same time, close to 84 percent of Americans are currently covered by health insurance. Instead of upending our entire health care system, we need to look for ways to expand access to care and health insurance coverage for the remaining 16 percent while we maintain coverage for those that want to keep it. And we need to find ways to reduce the cost of health care and improve the delivery of health care for everyone. We should take our time to understand the consequences of any legislative change. As Congress continues to look at our nation’s health care system, I have outlined the main principles that I believe should guide any reform. I have also listed some of the top policy options with explanations of each which Congress can consider. These principles and policy options do not solve – and are not intended to solve – all of the problems in health care. But each of them could make a significant difference to improve the quality and length of life for many Americans. Click each link below for further explanation 1) End Health Insurance Tax Discrimination 2) Increase Insurance Portability for Individuals The “Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996” provides “portability” protection that reduces or eliminates the period during which no coverage is provided for a preexisting medical condition when individuals switch to and from group health insurance plans. These protections currently apply to a person that moves from one group health plan to another, from a group health plan to an individual policy, or from an individual policy to a group health plan. Congress should extend similar protections for those moving from one individual policy to another individual policy to promote stability, choice, and portability. Congress should also examine the requirement that COBRA or other continuation coverage, if available, must be exhausted before a person can get HIPAA protections when moving from a group plan to an individual policy. 3) Promote Health Insurance Exchanges with State Flexibility Insurance exchanges can be a helpful tool to enable consumers and businesses to choose a health care plan that best fits their needs. Instead of mandating state-run exchanges, we should promote the creation of both public and private exchanges that have the ability to compete and operate according to the needs of its state’s citizens and businesses. 4) Remove Market Barriers to Purchasing Health Insurance Across State Lines 5) Ensure Access for Patients with Pre-Existing Conditions 6) Enact Medical Liability Reform I have also introduced legislation, H.R. 314, the “Medical Liability Procedural Reform Act of 2011,” that would authorize a limited number of grants to states to develop health care tribunals that would only hear disputes over injuries allegedly caused by health care providers. The judges would have specific health care expertise with the aid of independent expert witnesses commissioned by the court. In short, a doctor would be judged by his or her peer who understands all the aspects of providing care. This system would give both doctors and patients a fair and reliable way to settle disputes more efficiently while placing the focus back on patient safety and medical justice. 7) Strengthen Medicare for Current and Future Generations We should strengthen Medicare by allowing people under 55 the option either to choose traditional Medicare or to choose a private health insurance plan when they retire, starting in 2023. Those currently over 55 years old would not see any changes to their Medicare. I also believe that the current Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula related to Medicare reimbursements to physicians must be eliminated and replaced with some measure that is connected to quality medical care. For several years I have supported legislation to do just that. Thankfully, Congress averted the 27.4 percent cut in 2012; however, yearly patches have created uncertainty for physicians and Medicare patients. We need to permanently fix this problem. 8) Simplify Medicare Forms to Help Prevent Waste, Fraud, and Abuse I have introduced H.R. 315, the “Health Care Paperwork Reduction and Fraud Prevention Act.” This bill seeks to bring Medicare and the medical community together with the goal of simplifying codes and billing practices to reduce waste and fraud within the system and improve efficiencies to limit unnecessary paperwork. This measure takes a practical approach by establishing pilot programs to work out the details with doctors, insurance companies, and government agencies before system-wide changes are implemented. 9) Block Grant Medicaid Payments to States with Increased Flexibility We should block grant Medicaid payments to states and give each state the ability to implement the Medicaid program in a way that works best for its citizens. Whether a state wants to allow Medicaid recipients to purchase a third-party insurance policy or create incentive programs to help bring down unnecessary costs, states should be given the flexibility to implement Medicaid according to the unique needs of their own populations. We should also protect the elderly in long-term care and the most vulnerable children who have fewer options available. 10) Expand Health Spending Accounts
Millions of Americans use Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) to pay for qualified medical expenses on a on a tax-advantaged basis. Qualified expenses include costs for which an insurance company will not reimburse such as deductibles, copayments, and non-covered services. Related Documents:
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