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Health Care Health Care Unfortunately, the House plan not only continues to eliminate open health care competition and choice, but again dramatically cuts Medicare and increases taxes not only on those with high incomes but also those with certain health plans such as Health Savings Accounts (HSA’s). According to the Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation, H.R. 3962 will result in a net increase in the federal deficit of more than $200 billion while also raising taxes on small businesses and working families. These new taxes increase costs for small businesses, leading to further job losses at a time when the nation can least afford it. My foremost concern is that this plan relies on dramatic cuts in Medicare and Medicaid that adversely affects access to care for our senior citizens and the most needy in our population. The CBO estimates a projected cost of the bill’s insurance coverage provisions of more than one trillion dollars over 10 years, even without counting the additional spending included in the legislation. The history of government running almost any major program, including Medicare and Medicaid, ends up becoming very costly and bureaucratic, and is often riddled with fraud, waste and abuse because of the sheer size of the program. Proposed rationing of health care to our senior citizens and the needy on Medicaid is not fair to the most vulnerable in our society. I strongly favor reforms that would incorporate positive steps to bring health care costs for everyone under control and increase access and choice to quality care. The House plan includes an almost farcical provision relating to stemming lawsuits. In fact, states that have placed a limit on suits are penalized under H.R. 3962. Yet again, the Obama/ Pelosi plan fails to address limiting frivolous lawsuits, which without question can dramatically decrease health care costs in our country. Cleaning up the waste fraud and abuse in the current government run health care programs can also save substantial taxpayer money, not to mention the need to streamline the paperwork and red tape of the current Medicare and Medicaid systems. While I support health care reform, to gain my vote any plan must: 1. Not include a government option I want to assure you that I remain committed to resolving the problems of cost, access and maintaining quality health care for all America, and it will continue to be one of my top legislative priorities. We must lower costs for everyone, and that can be accomplished without a government takeover. I will not support a government run health system. Related Documents:
Press Releases -
Rep. Mica Statement on Passage of Health Care Legislation
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