Robert Hurt Votes To Protect Seniors' Access To Health Care

Press Release

Congressman Robert Hurt today released the following statement after voting in favor of the Protecting Access To Health Care (PATH) Act -- a bill that would repeal a provision in the President's health care law which appoints a group of 15 unelected government officials to make health care decisions for our seniors, placing the government in between the individual and their doctor:

"Perhaps the most egregious aspect of the President's health care law is the massive overextension of the federal government into private health care decisions of the American citizen. This law has expanded the size and scope of the federal government in an unprecedented way, and Central and Southside Virginians -- especially our seniors -- should no longer be forced to foot the bill for a law that restricts their freedoms, raises their taxes, and limits their access to affordable, quality care.

"The Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) is but another example of how the President's health care law negatively impacts Americans across this country, specifically our seniors, who need and deserve access to care; it is but another example of the fundamental difference in the Administration's view that Washington knows best and House Republicans' view that it is the American people that know best. This board of 15 unelected government officials has the power to unilaterally make decisions limiting seniors' access to care and interfere in decisions that must be kept between our seniors and their doctors.

"The people of the 5th District continue to send an unequivocal message that this law must be repealed and replaced, and today the House is once again delivering on that message. As the House continues to work on behalf of the American people, scaling back federal government over-reach and upholding our individual liberties, the repeal of IPAB -- a key provision in the President's health care law -- is a positive step, not only toward ensuring our seniors can access the care that they need, but also toward ensuring Central and Southside Virginians, and Americans across this country, that unelected officials, who are unaccountable to the American people, will not stand in between the individual and his or her medical decisions."

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