E-Newsletter Update - Six Goals for Healthcare

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

August 12, 2009

Dear Friends,

There has been a lot of focus on healthcare reform over the last few months, and what exactly the word “reform” means. My fundamental belief is that this debate should not be about who is going to finance the problems of healthcare — but instead, what Congress can do to end the $700 billion contained in this wasteful system.

Proponents of the Democrat plan suggest that a government insurance option is the only way to cover the uninsured. I disagree. There are many reforms we can institute today that will help bring down the cost of healthcare and make it more affordable to families who are priced out of the market and denied care. As a member of the Energy & Commerce Committee in the House, I’ve been an active participant in the discussions of this reform effort. (You can watch my comments to the Committee from July 16th by clicking here.)

I believe we must achieve six goals in order to be successful in bringing down the cost of healthcare. If these following six goals are achieved, we could save countless live, cover more Americans at a cheaper cost, and avoid the wrong-headed creation of a government run insurance company.

1. Increase transparency in healthcare — The same way a consumer can find information on a manufactured product, they should also be able to find out the history and experience of a doctor, hospital, and the costs of any given medical procedure.
2. Increase competition among healthcare plans — While I agree states should be allowed to manage the insurance markets, in many areas consumers may only have access to one or two plans, at a price they cannot afford. Instead, Congress should open up competition and consumers should be able to purchase a plan across state lines. More competition will drive down costs.
3. Demand insurance companies provide a basic plan —This simple change would allow consumers to be covered for routine doctor visits, emergency care and catastrophic costs. In addition to protecting a family from going bankrupt if a family member were to fall ill, it will also protect taxpayers and current healthcare plan subscribers who typically pick up the costs of those unable to pay for care, either through charitable care or higher premiums.
4. Root out waste in the healthcare system — From duplicative tests, redundant procedures, and defensive medicine practices where doctors do everything possible to avoid a potential lawsuit, it is estimated there are some $500-$800 billion in waste in today’s healthcare system. I also believe we need a non-political review of Medicare & Medicaid, two major taxpayer subsidized programs that are on the brink of bankruptcy and must be reformed first.
5. Provide assistance to those in need, on a sliding scale — For many middle and low income families, their income is too high to qualify for Medicaid, but are too young for Medicare. The availability of a low-cost basic plan, as mentioned above, coupled with tax breaks or direct subsidies on a sliding scale to these families will go a long way in protecting those living on the edge of their income.
6. Allow healthcare to be permanent, even if you switch jobs — Making healthcare portable and personal will go a long way in protecting your long term health.

My fear is that more bad policy becomes more bad medicine. Allowing our federal government to open up Uncle Sam’s Health Insurance Company by taking over private markets is a wrong-headed approach to fixing this problem.

Watch My C-Span Call-In Show

At the end of July, I participated in a half hour call-in program on C-Span to talk about my ideas and the problems with this Democrat healthcare plan. To watch it, click the image to the right, or click here to follow the link. Then, click on the red “Flash” circle to the right of the page.

Wasteful Spending Watch: Luxury Jets for Congress

The backlash created by the news that Democrat congressional leaders had secretly inserted funding for two luxury jets not requested by the Pentagon at a cost of $200 million, was apparently just the tip of the iceberg. On Tuesday, Fox News reported that the actual total was four jets, at a cost of $330 million. Fortunately, this funding has been reduced to just those planes requested by the military.

Deficit Watch: Closing in on $1.9 Trillion in FY2010

USA Today sums up just how big a deficit there is contained in the FY2010 budget, compared to prior years. This crystallizes perfectly the need to first contain and reform the costs of two of the largest drivers of the federal budget — Medicare & Medicaid — before even thinking about starting a new government entitlement program.

Immigration Reform Now Looming

As if the Administration doesn’t already have its hands full with economic recovery, energy and healthcare initiatives, we learn that immigration reform is up next and they plan to get it moving by the end of the year. Certainly any amnesty plan will have a major impact not only on current entitlement programs, but on any healthcare reform proposal being discussed now that will substantially add to long term costs. I will be on top of this issue when Congress reconvenes after Labor Day.

Till next time,

Tim Murphy

Congressman

[ Back to News ]