Washington, DC – Members of the GOP Doctors Caucus today released the following comments on the one year anniversary of President Obama’s health care bill becoming law:

Rep. Phil Gingrey, M.D., Co-Chair (GA-11): “Just one year has elapsed since the government takeover of our healthcare system and Obamacare has done nothing but create hardships for Americans and place burdens on businesses,” said Congressman Phil Gingrey. “Since its passage, state budgets have been crushed by rising Medicaid costs, businesses have struggled to keep their doors open due to onerous new administrative and tax burdens, and American citizens are being threatened with rising costs and less access to quality care. As we move forward in pursuit of a full repeal of Obamacare, we must stay committed to replacing it with meaningful, cost-cutting reforms that will improve health care, lower costs, and put Americans back to work.”

Rep. Charles Boustany, M.D. (LA-07): “We are already feeling the effects of this terrible health care policy, as 1,000 waivers have been issued in a short amount of time. The American people were adamant in their opposition to the bill but the White House and Congressional Democrats ignored them.  I am working with my colleagues to undo the damage of this law, from voting to fully repeal it in the House to introducing legislation to repeal the most burdensome provisions in the law and defund it entirely. I spoke out against Obamacare before it passed, arguing for sensible health-care solutions in this nation, and I will continue to fight for a health plan which lowers costs, improves quality and expands coverage, all while strengthening the doctor-patient relationship. The time to undo this law is now.”

Rep. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (LA-06): “One year ago, Democrats passed a health care bill which expands government entitlements, will drive states towards bankruptcy and encroaches upon individual freedom as no previous legislation has.  Businesses around the country are announcing layoffs because of the law’s costly mandates and insurance companies are increasing premiums because of the cost of compliance with Obamacare. Republicans are working to reverse this disastrous law and replace it with legislation which will expand access to affordable, quality health care, but in a way consistent with American values and which is fiscally sustainable.”

Rep. Tom Price, M.D. (GA-06):“One year ago today, President Obama signed ObamaCare into law – an unpopular, partisan overhaul of the American health care system that threatens Americans’ access to quality, affordable care,” said Congressman Tom Price, M.D. (R-GA).  “Behind closed doors and through backroom deal-making, Democrats built a costly and unworkable maze of new federal agencies and empowered Washington bureaucrats to determine the what, when, where, and how of health care.  The purpose of health reform should be to advance accessibility, affordability, quality, responsiveness, and innovation.  None of these are improved by ObamaCare.  They are threatened by ObamaCare because the goal of this law is to expand authority for the government, not opportunity and choices for the American people.  The fight for patient-centered reform will continue in order to restore health care choices and end a costly and misguided encroachment of government that will destroy jobs and drive our nation further toward a fiscal crisis.”

Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (TN-01): “A year since Obamacare became law, the American people see its failure to address the cost crisis in health care and have a better understanding of the long-lasting negative impact it will have on our health care system and our federal budget. Obamacare is what the American people have been forced to reckon with – it has created uncertainty for our small businesses through burdensome regulations like the 1099 forms, and the law has accelerated rising premiums many were already struggling to pay. This anniversary is a reminder that Congress must repeal Obamacare at the request of the American people, and pass meaningful health care legislation that will reform the system by controlling costs and getting rid of waste, without costing jobs and compromising care.”

Rep. Paul Broun, M.D. (GA-10):“In one year’s time, Democrats have managed to destroy every promise they made to the American people about healthcare reform,” said Congressman Broun.  “They promised Obamacare would create jobs, lower the deficit, and expand health care coverage to those who need it most.  Yet on the one year anniversary of Obamacare, we have seen abject failure in this massive government takeover of our healthcare system.   At a time when our nation is facing an economic emergency, it is imperative that we repeal and replace this bill before it further devastates our prosperity and more importantly – our liberty.”

Rep. Michael Burgess, M.D. (TX-26):“It has been one year since the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law. As a physician I am the first to admit we must reform America’s health care system, but the way the last Congress and President Obama approached the challenge simply did not address the areas that needed improvement. Instead, it has created a system where we will pay more to get less. What we have gained in surface area has been lost in depth and substance, and we are left with a rushed and ineffective law that will cost us more than just higher taxes.”

Rep. John Fleming, M.D. (LA-04): "Obamacare is now one year old and the pain and suffering it has inflicted on Americans is astounding. Obamacare has cost American jobs, driven up health care costs, and is exploding the debt. Even the Obama Administration recognizes that this law is detrimental to America by granting over 1,000 waivers thus far from the very law it forced on hardworking Americans. This unconstitutional mandate needs to be repealed and replaced with free market solutions."

Rep. Paul Gosar, DDS (AZ-01): “One year ago, the President signed into law a bill that places an unaccountable, unelected bureaucrat between every American and his or her  healthcare provider.   The law also fundamentally transformed health care from a private sector, market-oriented system widely regarded as the best in the world, to a government health care system.   As a Dentist, I firmly believe that this is wrong and that is exactly why I voted to repeal the bill.  I believe that we must implement health care reform that is patient centered.  That is why I introduced a bill that would end the anti-competitive practices of insurance companies and will also aid in tort reform.  We can improve our health care system, but I believe we can do so without a bureaucrat dictating your personal health care decisions.”

Rep. Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08): “As we acknowledge the 1 year anniversary of ObamaCare, I am as committed as ever in repealing this egregious law that will hurt access to quality care and does not address rising costs.  As a physician, I understand that the status quo is not acceptable.  We must focus on private sector, market based solutions that lower costs and will make healthcare more accessible and affordable to all.”

Rep. Renee Ellmers (NC-02): “As a nurse of twenty years, wife of a surgeon and owner of a wound clinic, I am aware of the problems that currently exist in the American health care system as a caregiver, a patient and a small business owner in the health care industry.   When I ran for office I vowed to repeal Obamacare, and that was one of my first votes in the 112^th Congress.  I co-sponsored and voted for a bill to end the job-killing 1099 reporting requirements that were part of the health care legislation. I also voted for funding restrictions to limit the President's implementation of Obamacare.  In the weeks to come, I will be working on legislation to eliminate Obamacare "mandatory" slush funds and will pursue other de-funding and repeal bills to dismantle this ill-conceived law that increases the size and control of government, raises taxes and results in devastating regulations on small business owners.”