On the eve of a historic vote in the U.S House conservatives are weighing in on Speaker Nancy Pelosis massive health care bill.
The legislation while creating an expensive new entitlement program and dramatically expanding an existing one Medicaid does not do enough to address rising health care costs and is not financed in a sensible sustainable way."
Rush Limbaugh? No. The Washington Post editorial board.
On mandates and taxes which incentivize small business to drop current health care we estimate (this) would collectively reduce the number of people with employer sponsored health coverage by 12 million".
Fox and Friends? Try the White Houses own Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The expansion of state Medicaid is the mother of all unfunded mandates." Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin? No. Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen a Democrat.
The Pelosi bill increases insurance premiums by an estimated 15 and drives up prescription drug costs for seniors by 20 according to Medicare. Even after throwing a trillion dollars at the problem the Democrats plan still leaves 18 million people in America uninsured thats a population larger than the state of Florida.
Here in Texas the news is worse.
Over bipartisan objections the Speaker effectively shutters up to 40 doctor-owned hospitals in Texas killing thousands of health care jobs slashing millions of dollars from local tax rolls and cutting access to critical care where its needed the most.
An estimated 660000 Texas seniors will lose their Medicare Advantage plans under the bill according to Medicare. In addition 1.1 million Texans with individual plans and 475000 with health savings accounts will see their plans restricted or could disappear altogether.
Thats what happens when Washington picks winners and losers in health care.
The Pelosi bill is fueled by $730 billion in new taxes on professionals small businesses wheel chairs oxygen tanks and other medical equipment - coupled with $503 billion in Medicare cuts which land squarely on Texas hospitals home health care providers and hospice providers.
Instead of streamlining an overly regulated health care system Democrats heap a massive new bureaucracy on top of it with more than 111 new federal agencies mandates and commissions and a new health care czar who must approve all plans private and public. The new commissioner will ultimately decide which doctors you can see what treatments you deserve and which medicines you can receive.
The single most important reform to Texans - lower health care costs cant be found in the now 2032 page bill. Meaningful lawsuit reform which can save more than $108 billion annually is missing as well. So is the requirement that members of Congress enroll in the public opinion.
President Obama promised the American people that this wont add a dime to the deficit" but the new entitlement relies on two outrageous budget gimmicks using ten years of tax revenue to pay for only six years of spending in the first decade and slipping off the books $245 billion to finally reimburse doctors more fairly under Medicare.
All this new spending teeters precariously atop nearly insolvent Medicare and Social Security systems and underfunded veterans and military health care programs. Shouldnt solemn promises to our seniors and patriots be kept first?
In the end the Democrats reform is not about reforming health care. Its about carefully building the architecture for a future single-payer nationalized health care system where the federal government is firmly in control of one-sixth of the American economy.
Clearly something must be done about health care but it must be done right.
House Republicans have a different vision. Our plan is based on a reasoned step-by-step approach to the complex issue of reform focusing first on lowering health care costs increasing coverage and rewarding Americans for preventative care.
Despite offering 53 reform proposals five of them comprehensive the GOP has been labeled the Party of No". Maybe its true. The Republican alternative contains no tax increases no Medicare cuts no rationing no mandates no deficit spending and no huge intrusion of government into your most intimate health care decisions.
The Congressional Budget Office reports the 219 page GOP plan will lower health care costs by up to 10 percent and reduce the deficit by $68 billion.
Those savings will come through lawsuit reform more affordable small business choices a worker backpacks so families can buy health care across state lines and take them from job to job preventing insurers from unjustly cancelling policies and strengthening universal access programs to cover those with pre-existing illnesses. The GOP plan also lifts limits so workers can get deeper discounts for preventative care and healthy lifestyles.
Are there more improvements to be made? Of course But lets start with the most important reforms like making health care more affordable and get them right first.
Health care is too important to get wrong.
On the eve of a historic vote in the U.S House conservatives are weighing in on Speaker Nancy Pelosis massive health care bill.
The legislation while creating an expensive new entitlement program and dramatically expanding an existing one Medicaid does not do enough to address rising health care costs and is not financed in a sensible sustainable way."
Rush Limbaugh? No. The Washington Post editorial board.
On mandates and taxes which incentivize small business to drop current health care we estimate (this) would collectively reduce the number of people with employer sponsored health coverage by 12 million".
Fox and Friends? Try the White Houses own Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The expansion of state Medicaid is the mother of all unfunded mandates." Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin? No. Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen a Democrat.
The Pelosi bill increases insurance premiums by an estimated 15 and drives up prescription drug costs for seniors by 20 according to Medicare. Even after throwing a trillion dollars at the problem the Democrats plan still leaves 18 million people in America uninsured thats a population larger than the state of Florida.
Here in Texas the news is worse.
Over bipartisan objections the Speaker effectively shutters up to 40 doctor-owned hospitals in Texas killing thousands of health care jobs slashing millions of dollars from local tax rolls and cutting access to critical care where its needed the most.
An estimated 660000 Texas seniors will lose their Medicare Advantage plans under the bill according to Medicare. In addition 1.1 million Texans with individual plans and 475000 with health savings accounts will see their plans restricted or could disappear altogether.
Thats what happens when Washington picks winners and losers in health care.
The Pelosi bill is fueled by $730 billion in new taxes on professionals small businesses wheel chairs oxygen tanks and other medical equipment - coupled with $503 billion in Medicare cuts which land squarely on Texas hospitals home health care providers and hospice providers.
Instead of streamlining an overly regulated health care system Democrats heap a massive new bureaucracy on top of it with more than 111 new federal agencies mandates and commissions and a new health care czar who must approve all plans private and public. The new commissioner will ultimately decide which doctors you can see what treatments you deserve and which medicines you can receive.
The single most important reform to Texans - lower health care costs cant be found in the now 2032 page bill. Meaningful lawsuit reform which can save more than $108 billion annually is missing as well. So is the requirement that members of Congress enroll in the public opinion.
President Obama promised the American people that this wont add a dime to the deficit" but the new entitlement relies on two outrageous budget gimmicks using ten years of tax revenue to pay for only six years of spending in the first decade and slipping off the books $245 billion to finally reimburse doctors more fairly under Medicare.
All this new spending teeters precariously atop nearly insolvent Medicare and Social Security systems and underfunded veterans and military health care programs. Shouldnt solemn promises to our seniors and patriots be kept first?
In the end the Democrats reform is not about reforming health care. Its about carefully building the architecture for a future single-payer nationalized health care system where the federal government is firmly in control of one-sixth of the American economy.
Clearly something must be done about health care but it must be done right.
House Republicans have a different vision. Our plan is based on a reasoned step-by-step approach to the complex issue of reform focusing first on lowering health care costs increasing coverage and rewarding Americans for preventative care.
Despite offering 53 reform proposals five of them comprehensive the GOP has been labeled the Party of No". Maybe its true. The Republican alternative contains no tax increases no Medicare cuts no rationing no mandates no deficit spending and no huge intrusion of government into your most intimate health care decisions.
The Congressional Budget Office reports the 219 page GOP plan will lower health care costs by up to 10 percent and reduce the deficit by $68 billion.
Those savings will come through lawsuit reform more affordable small business choices a worker backpacks so families can buy health care across state lines and take them from job to job preventing insurers from unjustly cancelling policies and strengthening universal access programs to cover those with pre-existing illnesses. The GOP plan also lifts limits so workers can get deeper discounts for preventative care and healthy lifestyles.
Are there more improvements to be made? Of course But lets start with the most important reforms like making health care more affordable and get them right first.
Health care is too important to get wrong.
