Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Charles W. Boustany, Jr., R-Southwest Louisiana, a former cardiothoracic surgeon, today questioned witnesses about the ability of Americans to keep their existing healthcare coverage under a proposal by the Commonwealth Fund, frequently cited as one model for the Obama Administration’s healthcare reforms.

“As Americans struggle with a slowing economy, we, as a nation, must work together to address rising healthcare costs,” Boustany said.  “First and foremost, if a family likes their healthcare coverage, they should be able to keep it.  The Commonwealth Fund’s proposal would push 119 million Americans from their current coverage to a government-run program according to a nonpartisan research group.  We should make meaningful changes that would lower healthcare costs for all Americans and increase access for people currently without health insurance.”

Boustany, the only Republican doctor on the House Ways and Means Committee, heard the testimony of three healthcare experts before the full committee.  One of the witnesses, President of the Commonwealth Fund Dr. Karen Davis, PhD testified about the group’s proposal to reform the American healthcare system by imposing mandates on individuals and employers.  The Commonwealth Fund’s proposal has been listed as one of the models for President Obama’s eventual healthcare overhaul.

Boustany’s full statement for the record follows:

Statement of Congressman Charles Boustany, Jr., MD
Ways and Means Committee Hearing
March 10, 2009

I would like to thank the witnesses here today.  I appreciate the time and energy you have devoted to helping patients and working taxpayers who deserve a more accountable and cost-effective health care system.

Congress has a duty to address rising health costs, in addition to improving access to a doctor and expanding health coverage.  Reform must remain patient-centered, and we need to act prudently.

Congress must allow Americans to maintain their private coverage and medical decisions should remain in the hands of patients and physicians.  We must also ensure that any reform efforts won’t force small business employees out of their jobs.

Our economy and prosperity are linked to our healthcare system, and to remain competitive we must lower costs while maintaining quality.

I have a number of concerns about the Commonwealth proposal that I hope will be addressed today.

•    The plan would “crowd out” private coverage.  According to the Lewin Group, at least 119 million Americans would lose their private coverage in 2010.   

•    The plan would impose a mandate on small businesses.  The National Federation of Independent Business warns a “national employer healthcare mandate would generate a net loss of more than 1.6 million U.S. jobs between 2009 and 2013.  Small businesses would lose more than 1 million jobs and account for 66 percent of all jobs lost.”

•    The plan would cripple patient access with massive provider payment cuts.  The Lewin Group warns shifting to Medicare rates would result in a $36 billion cut in “provider income net of reduced uncompensated care” for hospitals and a $33.1 billion cut for physicians.

•    The plan envisions $634 billion in savings between 2010 and 2020 from comparative effectiveness research.  Unfortunately, bureaucrats could use this research to deprive patient subpopulations of medically necessary care.  Any meaningful reform must include reasonable patient protections in this area.

•    The plan neglects to disclose hidden costs for working taxpayers. The report notes that: “The Commission did not specify a plan to finance the federal expansion.”


As Americans struggle with a slowing economy, we, as a nation, must work together to address rising healthcare costs.  However, any reform must be well thought through to ensure we do not create worse problems.  By protecting the doctor-patient relationship we’ll improve access to affordable, high-quality healthcare.   Working together, we can make American workers competitive again, and provide the highest quality care that Americans deserve.

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