Congressman Lee Votes For Common Sense, Fiscally Responsible Health Care Reform

Press Release

Congressman Lee Votes For Common Sense, Fiscally Responsible Health Care Reform

Congressman Chris Lee (NY-26) this evening voted to enact meaningful reforms to America's health care system while not raising taxes or adding to the national deficit. The lawmaker expressed his opposition to a government-run, taxpayer-funded healthcare proposal that unfairly targets small businesses with burdensome mandates, does not include meaningful liability reform and implements drastic cuts to effective senior health care programs such as Medicare Advantage.
H.R. 3962 (Affordable Health Care for America Act) passed the House of Representatives on a final vote of 220-215. The legislation was opposed by 39 House Democrats, and only one Republicans voted for the measure.
"It is important that Congress actually reforms America's health care system to lower costs, expand access and improve quality -- not simply add huge new costs onto the backs of our children and seniors through tax increases, deficit spending and cuts to Medicare," said Congressman Lee. "Unfortunately, Speaker Pelosi's legislation will not enact meaningful health care reform or lower costs but will instead create a government takeover of our health care system that will lead to higher taxes and debt, lost coverage, poorer quality care and fewer jobs."

Speaker Pelosi's health care bill is 2,032 pages long and will cost taxpayers $1.2 trillion. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office says the measure will increase premiums for middle-class families. Its small business tax hikes will result in millions of lost jobs, coming on the heels of the news that national unemployment has reached 10.2 percent, the highest in 26 years. In addition, it includes:

* A government-run, taxpayer funded insurance program and a commission to determine what treatments are covered and which are not.
* 118 new offices, bureaus, commissions, programs, and bureaucracies with power to establish "waiting lists" and "categories of covered treatments."
* 3,425 new duties for D.C. bureaucrats, needing new federal workers to carry them out.
* $752 billion in new taxes on working families, small businesses and large employers.
* $500 billion in cuts to Medicare Advantage and other Medicare programs for seniors.
* Fines and prison terms for individuals who fail to comply with the bill's coverage mandates.

"There is no question that we must work in a common sense way to reform our health care system." Congressman Lee added. "I will continue to work with my colleagues -- Democrat and Republican -- for meaningful reforms that will actually lower health care costs and increase coverage for Americans."
The Republican alternative legislation addressed a significant cost saver -- medical liability reform -- which Congressman Lee has been advocating for since being sworn into office in January. The Congressional Budget Office says medical liability reform can save $54 billion over the next 10 years. Lee also offered an amendment to H.R. 3962 that would play a meaningful role in reforming medical liability laws. Unfortunately, Lee's amendment that would have created a medical tribunal system pilot program was not adopted. Modeled after a successful initiative in Massachusetts, a three member panel -- a judge, a physician and an attorney -- would hold a hearing to determine if the facts are sufficient to raise a question of liability in a potential malpractice case. In addition, the measure would require studies on the cost of malpractice insurance, changes in the number of physicians practicing and changes in the number of liability carriers.

For months, Congressman Lee has been advocating for a fiscally responsible health care reform plan. His proposal, H.R. 3970, the Medical Rights and Reform Act, implements real reforms to ensure better, more affordable health care is available for all Americans. The Medical Rights and Reform Act achieves these goals without raising taxes, adding to the budget deficit, or having the federal government take over the system.

This proposal contains a number of great ideas to reduce costs and improve outcomes, including:

-Real malpractice liability reform so doctors don't have to practice defensive medicine and hospitals don't need to keep teams of lawyers on retainer.

-The development of electronic medical records so primary care physicians, specialists, and hospitals can quickly share patient information to help improve care and eliminate mistakes.

-Allows individuals to buy health insurance across state lines which will drive competition and lower costs.

-Ensures that no person is denied health care because of a pre-existing condition.
-Allows young people up to age 26, access to their parent's health insurance, which will reduce the number of uninsured by at least 7 million.
Congressman Lee's Health Care Listening Tour
Since coming to Congress, Congressman Lee has been engaged in an extensive effort to seek the opinions of the leaders in the Western New York health care community, local small businesses, seniors and families about what we need to do to achieve real reform.

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