Issue Position: Healthcare

Issue Position

Issue Position: Healthcare

Over the past several years, we have witnessed great advances in health care coupled with rapidly rising costs. Increased affordability and accessibility are the two goals I believe we should be working towards when considering legislative changes.

On the cost side, I am very concerned with the skyrocketing insurance premiums facing our nation's health care delivery system. Liability insurers are leaving the market or raising rates to a level that people just can't afford. In turn, more physicians, hospitals and other providers are limiting their practices or simply stop practicing medicine. The direct cost of frivolous lawsuits and the indirect costs passed on in higher fees and premiums have driven up costs. That's why I supported legislation that places common-sense curbs on frivolous lawsuits, HR 3875, and I have supported reforms that would allow small businesses to pool together in order to offer affordable health care to their workers, HR 525.

To improve health care for our seniors, I supported the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit that has provided drug coverage for thousands of 8th District seniors, HR 1. The Medicare Drug Benefit which took effect on January 1, 2006 provides all seniors, regardless of income, health status, or prescription drug usage, with an array of options to help them pick an affordable plan that best meets their needs.

Although certainly there is more work to be done in modernizing the system, I believe that we are making strides, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to further reform our nation's healthcare in the future.

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