Doctors Caucus RSS Articles

Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Hearing on the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight and the Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Thu, 24 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT

Opening Statement of Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Tim Murphy

I convene this hearing of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations to examine the Department of Health and Human Services’ management of the Affordable Care Act as we approach the January 1, 2014, deadline for full implementation. Mr. Gary Cohen, Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, or CCIIO, is here to testify on behalf of HHS. CCIIO is responsible for implementing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s many changes to the private health insurance market.

Mr. Cohen and those at CCIIO certainly have their work cut out for them: At the beginning of next year full implementation of the PPACA will finally take place. On that day Americans have been promised the ability to purchase health insurance plans through new exchanges. The American people have been promised good coverage that is also affordable.

We all remember the many promises that were made in the rush to pass the PPACA by any means necessary. That if you liked your coverage you could keep it. Yet, we see many stories about impending doctor shortages, and companies faced with the tough decision of whether to continue providing coverage. The decision on whether to provide that coverage is related to another promise that will surely be broken: that the law will lower costs. One large health insurance company’s CEO has already noted that Americans should get ready for premium “rate shock.”

Read more…

Opening Statement of Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton

Today’s hearing continues this committee’s rigorous oversight of the Obama administration’s implementation of the health care law.

Since the law’s passage, we have had CCIIO this subcommittee three times. During previous hearings, we uncovered that the promises made about the Affordable Care Act didn’t match up with reality.

In 2011, we learned that CCIIO was granting waivers from the law to individuals and companies that would face large premium increases, or the loss of coverage, because of Obamacare.

GOP Doctors Caucus marks three-year anniversary of Obamacare

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT

On the third year anniversary of Obamacare’s passage, the GOP Doctors Caucus remains committed to a full repeal of the law.

Rep. Phil Gingrey, M.D. (GA-11) “Three years ago, a Democrat controlled Congress passed a health care law that President Obama said ‘brings down the cost of health care for families and businesses and the federal government,’ while expanding coverage to millions of Americans. Looking back, we now see that nothing could be farther from the truth. With billions in new taxes and a multitude of moving-target rules and regulations, the law is hurting small businesses and hindering job growth. In the meantime, more than seven million people have already lost their coverage completely. I am committed to continuing the fight for repeal of this disastrous law for job creators, families, and patients.”

Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (TN-01) “Three years ago today the Democrat-led House passed a law that will forever change the way we deliver health care in this country. The only thing bipartisan about this bill was its opposition. It was a bad idea three years ago, and it’s still a bad idea today. I will continue to work with my colleagues to repeal this legislation, whether it be as a whole or piece-by-piece, and replace it with commonsense, patient-centered health care reform.”

Rep. Paul Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04): “Supporting Obamacare is like a chicken supporting Colonel Sanders. The Native American tribes in my district who have been on government healthcare the longest are now seeking private options. So should we.”

Rep. Larry Buschon, M.D. (IN-08):“As a former cardiothoracic surgeon, I understand healthcare decisions are better made between a patient and their doctor – not by government bureaucrats,” said Rep. Bucshon. “The Affordable Care Act takes the opposite approach and despite the President’s promises, premiums are on the rise for young people and middle class families, nearly 7 million Americans will lose their job-based health insurance plans, and care to our nation’s seniors is placed in the hands of 15 unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats. Among the many new taxes, the Medical Device Tax is also particularly troubling for Indiana. The Hoosier state is home to a strong medical device industry and this 2.3% excise tax has already forced businesses to scrap plans for expansion. I have personally depended on these devices in the operating room to save the lives of my patients. This bottoms line is that the Affordable Care Act is bad for patients. My goal is quality, affordable healthcare for all of our citizens. Private sector reforms are needed – not a near government takeover.”

Rep. Charles Boustany, M.D. (LA-03) “Three years ago, Washington liberals forced a midnight vote to pass the healthcare law. For individuals, families, and small businesses struggling to pay for health care, this milestone is no cause for celebration. The President’s health care law contains over a trillion dollars in new taxes on employers, medical device makers, families buying health insurance, and others. I have introduced legislation repealing both the employer mandate tax and health insurance tax. These issues reinforce the fact the President’s health care law is an enormous tax burden. That’s the last thing our nation’s job creators need to see. We’ve already dismantled parts of Obamacare. Aggressive oversight must continue.”

Rep. Paul Broun, M.D. (GA-10) “In just three years, Obamacare has already begun to destroy our liberty,” “It has allowed the government to usurp control of this country’s healthcare system, and as a result, the quality of care has been compromised, countless jobs have been lost, and Americans have been stripped of their freedom of choice. I will continue do everything I can to repeal Obamacare in its entirety and replace it with true patient-centered health care reform.”

Rep. Tom Price, M.D. (GA-06): “On the third anniversary of its enactment, those of us who believe in patient-centered solutions are committed to repealing the president’s health care law so that we can put in place reforms that expand access to quality, affordable health care choices for more Americans. There is no doubt that the status quo in health care is unacceptable. But, rather than solve the challenges in our health care system in a positive way, the president’s health care law focuses on empowering Washington bureaucrats. Patients, families, and doctors – not Washington – ought to be in charge of health care decisions.”

Rep. John Fleming, M.D. (LA-04) "The closer we get to full implementation of Obamacare, the more the American people see how it's poised to destroy patient-centered health care. For instance, we've seen how Obamacare has decimated Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), which encouraged Americans to take charge of their health care by saving for medical expenses. Obamacare's government-centered approach has no room for such innovation. Today, I introduced the Helping Save Americans' Health Care Choices Act of 2013 to restore the tax credits and spending flexibility that were part of HSAs before Obamacare. Obamacare should be repealed in its entirety. I oppose it and have voted for its repeal on numerous occasions, and a full repeal remains my goal. However, as long as Senate Democrats and President Obama remain committed to this monstrosity, it’s important that we do what we can to blunt the damaging effects of Obamacare, while passing common sense reforms that put Americans back in charge of their own health care.”

Rep. Joe Heck, M.D. (NV-03)“Three years after it was passed, this law is just as flawed today as it was back then,” Rep. Joe Heck said. “We know that this bill will not achieve its main stated purposes: to decrease health care costs and allow people to keep their current health insurance coverage. It makes cuts to Medicare, puts a board of bureaucrats between seniors and their health care and taxes medical devices which will increase costs. Businesses large and small in my district are still very concerned about the effects the law will have on their ability to provide insurance to their employees, expand their operations, and even stay in business. Three years later it still needs to be repealed and replaced with patient-centered reforms that will actually address the skyrocketing costs of health care and expand access to care.”

Rep. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (LA-06) “Since 1981, I have practiced medicine, treating uninsured patients in public hospitals. I have seen politicians over promise and underfund health care programs while hustling taxpayers by promising “free money” and appealing to their human kindness. But too often politicians don’t reveal the full cost or effects of their policies. After three years of learning what’s in Obamacare, we know this is exactly what Obamacare did. American families are paying $3,000 more in premiums than before Obamacare and the costs just keep piling up. Businesses cannot afford to hire new employees or shifting people to part-time to avoid expensive regulations. Three years later, Obamacare continues to be an anchor on our economy and job creation.” Rep. Bill Cassidy M.D.

Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) “On the third anniversary of Obamacare passing the House of Representatives, we have to continue fighting back against this disastrous law that will make it more difficult for the American people to have access to quality and affordable healthcare. The more we are finding out about how this law will affect young people and job creators, the more we are realizing that it should never have passed. Obamacare is destroying jobs and will continue to destroy jobs as it becomes fully implemented. Job creators are being forced to let workers go or cut back their hours because they cannot afford the higher costs, looming taxes, and heavy-handed mandates. Young people are finding that they are not able to afford the skyrocketing cost of insurance. This law must be replaced with patient centered healthcare solutions that do not hurt job creators or ruin the healthcare Americans already have.”

Rep. Diane Black, (TN-06) “While serving in the Tennessee legislature, I saw firsthand how Tenncare, the pilot program for universal care, wreaked havoc on our state budget and eroded patient care. Thankfully, Tenncare was dramatically rolled back just in time, before it nearly bankrupted our state. Obamacare, like Tenncare, will not be able to withstand its own weight of costly subsidies, onerous regulations, and restrictive mandates. In just three years, rising insurance premiums, a jobless recovery, increasing cost projections and countless other broken promises reaffirm why Obamacare must be dismantled before any further damage is done to our economy and our health care system. Market-based, patient-centered health care reforms should be a top priority, but we will never successfully bring down the cost of health care or balance the budget, if we do not roll back this self-defeating law,”

The House GOP Doctors Caucus is comprised of 19 medical providers who utilize their medical expertise to develop patient-centered health care reforms focused on quality, access, affordability, portability, and choice.

Contact: Jen Talaber, 202.225.2931 or Tiffany McGuffee, 202.225.6356

Energy & Commerce Committee: State of Uncertainty

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT

The Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health today will convene a hearing with federal and state officials to discuss the implementation and regulation of the health exchanges and Medicaid expansion established in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Governors, members of Congress, and state officials have sent numerous letters requesting this basic information. While informal guidance and some proposed or final rules have been issued, unanswered questions or incomplete answers leave states wondering:

·         What benefits must be included in qualified health plans under rules dictating “essential” health benefits?

·         When will HHS reveal the operational details of the federal exchange?

·         Has HHS accounted for the subsidy cliff included in PPACA that dramatically increases an individual and family’s exposure to the law’s premium increases?

·         Has HHS considered how the government-run plan administered by the Office of Personnel Management could disrupt markets?

·         Will states have the ability to opt in and out of an exchange management on an ongoing basis given the lack of information related to their operation and cost? How     will this process work?

·         Will the administration again change deadlines related to implementation of state exchanges given the lack of information it has so far provided?

·         Will states that expand Medicaid coverage up to a level below 133 percent of the federal poverty limit (FPL), for example up to 100 percent FPL, after 2017 receive an enhanced federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) available for “newly covered” populations?

·         Why does Section 1115 Waiver Authority allow CMS to provide states, “significant flexibility” after 2017, but not during 2014-2016?

·         Will states be allowed to phase-in Medicaid coverage up to 133 percent of FPL in years after 2014 and still receive an enhanced FMAP?

·         If a state opts not to pursue the Medicaid expansion as written in PPACA, what other Medicaid provisions of PPACA would apply to their program? Specifically, do financial penalties associated with the PPACA Maintenance of Effort provisions still stand?

·         What options and federal assistance are available for states that decide not to pursue Medicaid expansion as written in PPACA?

·         What additional flexibilities are available to states that may be considering an expansion but believe the financial sustainability of such a policy requires greater state autonomy in managing their Medicaid programs?

·         Regarding the two-year increase in Medicaid reimbursement for primary care codes, are states expected to maintain the additional billions in spending after 2014?

On July 2, 2012, the National Governors Association sent a letter to HHS raising concerns and questions from a bipartisan group of governors in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling striking down the law’s mandated Medicaid expansion.

On July 3, 2012, the National Association of Medicaid Directors sent a similar letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

On July 10, 2012, the Republican Governors Association (RGA) sent a letter to President Obama outlining basic operational and implementation questions.

On July 23, 2012, RGA sent a follow up letter to HHS Secretary after CMS failed to provide a substantive response to RGA’s 30 specific questions.

On August 20, 2012, Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans sent a letter to CMS on the administration’s failure to respond to specific questions from states.

On October 4, 2012, Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans sent a follow up letter to Secretary Sebelius.

Published by the House Energy & Commerce Committee: EXAM ROOM

Energy & Commerce Committee: Mandates and Uncertainty

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT

For months, governors, state officials, and members of Congress have been clamoring for the Obama administration to provide basic information on how the health care law’s mandated health exchanges and Medicaid expansion will be implemented and regulated. After multiple written requests to the Obama administration went unanswered, the Health Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA), scheduled a public hearing to press the administration to finally respond to the numerous critical questions that remain unanswered nearly 1,000 days since enactment of the health care law.

“The administration has repeatedly ignored inquiries from governors, Congress, and state health officials seeking more information on the imminent Medicaid expansion and health exchange deadlines,” said Chairman Pitts. “Yesterday, after months of delay and just three days before our hearing with federal and state officials, the Obama administration finally disclosed a handful of details on the massive regulatory undertaking. Many more questions still remain, and we expect the administration to finally provide answers on Thursday.”

State of Uncertainty: By the Numbers

Nearly 33 MONTHS since Obamacare was signed into law
2,700 PAGES of legislation to create Obamacare
More than 32 MONTHS states have been waiting to receive federal guidance on key Obamacare issues related to the health insurance exchanges and market changes
5 MONTHS since governors first asked for clarification on key issues related to the Supreme Court’s decision that the president’s mandatory Medicaid expansion was unconstitutional
At least 7 LETTERS sent to the administration from states and the Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans since July 1, 2012, asking for greater clarification and guidance for states
MORE THAN 13,000 PAGES of federal Obamacare regulations issued, and still, key questions remain unanswered
20 DAYS left for states, employers and American taxpayers to provide feedback on regulations
3 DAYS left for states to make a final decision on a state-based exchange
On Monday, just 3 DAYS before a major Energy and Commerce Committee hearing with administration officials and states, the Obama administration releases 17 PAGES of frequently asked questions and talking points to states facing the mandates and financial burden of Obamcare
13 MONTHS — JUST 385 DAYS—until Obamacare schedule for full implementation

Published by the House Energy & Commerce Committee: EXAM ROOM

GOP Doctors Caucus names incoming Co-Chair, Vice Chair

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Rep. Tim Murphy, PhD, (PA-18) today announced his intention to step down as Co-Chair of the House GOP Doctors Caucus at the start of the 113^th Congress. While he’ll remain an active member of the caucus, his primary focus will be leading the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation as Chairman. Assuming Murphy’s role as Co-Chair will be Dr. Phil Roe, M.D., (TN-1). Rep. Diane Black, R.N., (TN-6) will serve as a Vice Chair, a position previously held by Dr. Roe.

“For the past three years, it has been an honor and a pleasure working alongside Dr. Gingrey to promote affordable and accessible healthcare for American families,” Murphy said. “As I step down as Co-Chair of the Doctors Caucus to focus on Chairing the Oversight and Investigations panel of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I will continue on the Doctors Caucus working to shape healthcare policy while ensuring patients receive the care they need, from the doctor of their choice, at a price they can afford. Our nation’s families are dealing with a healthcare industry undergoing vast change, which is why it’s so important to have knowledgeable and compassionate leaders at the helm who will put patient care first. I’m confident our newest Co-Chair, Phil Roe, and Vice Chair Diane Black will join Dr. Gingrey in doing just that. Under this new leadership, the caucus will continue leading the fight to protect the doctor-patient relationship and improve our nation’s healthcare system.”

“I am honored to serve as Co-Chair of the Doctors Caucus for the 113^th Congress. Rep. Murphy is, and will continue to be, a leader in the healthcare debate,” Roe said. Dr. Gingrey and I have worked together on behalf of the Doctors Caucus for quite some time, and I look forward to continuing that relationship. As a physician for more than 30 years, I know the complexities of our healthcare system, and because of Tennessee’s experience with TennCare, I am keenly aware of what happens when you simply expand coverage without addressing the cost of medical care. Our priority remains a full repeal of the Affordable Care Act, but we will work together to address some of the worst parts of the legislation and to find ways to lower the cost of medical care, repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board, implement meaningful medical malpractice reforms and fight fiercely to preserve the doctor-patient relationship.”

“It is an honor to be selected as the next Vice Chair of the House GOP Doctors Caucus,” Black said. “I look forward to working with my fellow healthcare professionals to roll back the government takeover of our healthcare system. The new healthcare law is already increasing costs and long-term deficits while decreasing quality and choice. As a registered nurse for more than 40 years, I am fully committed to advancing patient-centered healthcare reforms focused on increasing affordability, access, and choice.”

Rep. Phil Gingrey, M.D., (GA-11) and Rep. John Fleming, M.D., (LA-4) will continue to serve in their current roles as Co-Chair and Vice Chair.

Doctors Caucus Highlights Boustany as "Member of the Month"

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman Charles W. Boustany Jr., M.D., a cardiovascular surgeon with more than 20 years of experience, was first elected to Congress in December 2004. Serving his fourth term in office, Boustany represents Louisiana’s Seventh Congressional District, which covers Acadiana and South Louisiana.

As a physician, Congressman Boustany understands the importance of healthcare and is at the forefront of healthcare policy in Congress. He believes the patient-doctor relationship is the most important part of healthcare and has worked to implement patient-centered healthcare solutions. Increased access to tax-free health savings accounts (HSAs) represent one opportunity for patients to strengthen their control over their healthcare decisions, and Boustany introduced legislation allowing seniors and veterans to participate.

Boustany is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and serves as chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight. As chairman of Oversight, Boustany focuses on revising the tax code to make it easier for American businesses to compete, which in turn will create jobs, and highlight the job killing aspects of the health care bill.

Congressman Boustany was raised in Lafayette and received his bachelor's degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette) before graduating from the Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans in 1982. He returned to Lafayette in 1990 and began a successful medical practice. For fourteen years, he ran a small business and was committed to helping others by providing the highest quality healthcare to his patients and the community. In Congress, Congressman Boustany is committed to serving the people of Southwest Louisiana with the same dedication and care that he provided as a physician and community leader.

Charles and his wife Bridget reside in Lafayette and have two adult children.

GOP Doctors Caucus members vote to repeal President Obama’s health care law

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Members of the GOP Doctors Caucus voted to repeal President Obama’s disastrous health care law today, which passed the House of Representatives with a bipartisan vote of 244-185. The President’s law gives control of one-sixth our economy to Washington bureaucrats and imposes a massive tax increase on middle-class Americans and small business owners. As physicians, the Doctors Caucus is committed to enacting step-by-step, patient-centered reforms that increase access, ensure quality of care, and protect the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship.
Co-Chairman Phil Gingrey, M.D. (GA-11)

"As both a physician and a taxpayer, fully repealing Obamacare remains my top priority, and today the House took its first step towards this critically important goal. The President’s health care law guts $500 billion from Medicare, increases health care costs, threatens access to Medicare and Medicaid patients, and imposes massive tax increases that Americans and small businesses can’t afford. President Obama promised that his law would not raise taxes, would decrease health care costs, and that if we liked our plans, we could keep them. These promises have been broken, and Obamacare accomplishes the exact opposite of what the President pledged.

"Health care costs in this country are too high, but this 2,000 page, $1 trillion law is not the solution. Patients should have more control of their insurance decisions, and reform should be driven on the state level. Rather than rushing through legislation that we have to read to "find out what’s in it," Republicans will take a thoughtful, measured approach to increasing access and quality of care to patients, without giving control to bureaucrats."

Co-Chairman Tim Murphy, Ph.D. (PA-18)

"It’s clear that we have massive problems with our healthcare system. We need to focus on delivering real reform so that every American has access to the care they need, from a doctor they choose, at a price they can afford, without a government takeover.　Just as we did in Pennsylvania when I authored the Patient Bill of Rights, I call on my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to work together on fixing, instead of just financing, our broken healthcare system. We can start by allowing you to take the plan you need across jobs, ensure you can’t be cut for being sick, promote chronic disease management to keep seniors healthy and out of hospitals, and allow families to join groups and purchase insurance across state lines. I look forward to working with all my colleagues in the coming months to enact common sense, state-based reforms that will put healthcare decisions back where they belong—in the hands of patients and their physicians."

Republican Police Committee Chairman Tom Price, M.D. (GA-06)

"The president’s health care law harms all of the principles that Americans hold dear as it relates to health care. It increases costs, decreases accessibility, lowers quality and limits choices. It harms patients, especially seniors, by removing $500 billion from Medicare and having 15 unaccountable bureaucrats deny payment for health care services. It harms doctors, over 80 percent of whom in a recent poll said that they would have to consider getting out of medicine because of this law. And it harms our economy, killing over 800,000 jobs and making it more difficult for small businesses, the job creation engine of our nation, to create jobs. It doesn’t have to be this way. There are positive solutions that don’t require putting Washington in charge. There’s a better way, and the first step to that better way is to repeal this law, so that we may work in a rational and deliberative and bipartisan process, for patient-centered health care, where patients and families and doctors make medical decisions, not Washington."

Rep. Renee Ellmers, R.N. (NC-02)

"This afternoon, I sent a letter to Senator Harry Reid, calling on him to allow the Senate to vote on the Repeal of Obamacare Act, which we passed here in the House today. Members of both parties voted in support of this repeal and it is incumbent on us, as elected Representatives and Senators, to make a decision on issues that affect all Americans and future generations.

"Here in the House, we have sent over 30 pieces of job-creating, pro growth legislation to the Senate. If Senator Reid is confident in his party's majority in the Senate, and proud of the historic increase in taxes brought on by Obamacare, then there is no reason to deny each Senator their right to make their position known. This law was not presented to the American people as a tax, but now that it has been ruled one by the Supreme Court, the Senate has an obligation, as elected officials, to let the hardworking American taxpayers know where their Senator stands.

"Great leaders rise in support of what they believe in because they are emboldened by the courage to defend their principles. The failure to do so only diminishes the worthiness of their cause."

Rep. John Fleming, M.D. (LA-04)

"As a family physician, I came to Congress to bring consumer choice, transparency and efficiency back into our health care, and to put health care decisions back into the exam room where they belong. Instead, Democrats passed Obamacare without even one Republican vote. It essentially doubles down on the cost, inefficiencies, and lack of accessibility to good health care that already existed, and puts Washington fully in control of your health care decisions, and will lead to yet another large, unaffordable entitlement program and eventual government rationing of your care. Obamacare must be repealed and work must begin toward a bipartisan step-by-step solution."

Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (TN-01)

"Today, I voted again to repeal the president’s health care law. Passage of the Repeal of Obamacare Act sends another strong message that Republicans and Democrats alike are still opposed to this flawed bill. The law went too far because it gives the Washington bureaucrats too much power over patients’ health care decisions. The current law fails to address the cost crisis in health care, and in fact, dramatically increases costs for all involved. The core program is simply too expensive, and the problem was compounded by not doing enough to address important cost issues. We need to ensure affordability while increasing accessibility in order to maximize the health care choices for patients. Further, at a time of tremendous economic uncertainty, the last thing our small businesses need is a huge tax increase that prevents job creation and encourages layoffs."

Rep. Paul Broun, M.D. (GA-10)

"The Supreme Court’s ruling on Obamacare doesn’t change a thing – Obamacare was a bad bill two years ago, and it’s still a bad bill today. Americans have overwhelmingly rejected the President’s healthcare reform, and today the House has done its job and reflected the will of the people by repealing it. Now it’s up to Harry Reid and the Senate to follow suit and get rid of this legislation once and for all. Only then will we be able to move forward with real reform that puts patients and doctors back in charge of their healthcare decisions."

Rep. Anne Marie Buerkle, R.N. (NY-25)

"Today’s vote to repeal the President’s healthcare law is an affirmation of my commitment to develop true healthcare reform; reform in a way that does not hinder America’s job creators or burden America’s middle class. While ruled constitutional, President Obama’s healthcare law is bad policy for patients, doctors, healthcare providers and administrators, small businesses, and the middle class. Americans deserve access to quality, affordable healthcare, but must not be achieved on the backs of the middle class and America’s job creators. We can increase access to quality healthcare without crippling the economy, but the answer lies with the free market rather than the Federal government."

Rep. Dan Benishek, M.D. (MI-01)

"The Supreme Court’s recent ruling upholding the President’s health care law is a reminder that we cannot rely on our courts to fix the mistakes of Congress. As a doctor in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for 30 years, I know the President’s law cannot be ‘fixed.’ This law must be fully repealed.

"Despite much soaring rhetoric, the President’s law never addressed the real challenges of health care in this country. America has a great health care system, but it costs too much. Instead of putting Washington in charge of patient care, I recommend that we enact a step-by-step approach that lowers costs through free-market competition and strengthens the doctor-patient relationship.

"Ultimately, the fate of the President’s health care law will have to be decided by the American people. Today’s vote will offer the White House and the Senate another opportunity to do what the majority of American people are demanding: scrap this law and begin to enact real health care reforms that lower costs and improve access to care."

Rep. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (LA-06)

"As a practicing physician who still sees patients in a safety net hospital, I support the repeal of Obamacare. This law is bad for patients, businesses and the economy. This mandate is one of the largest tax increases on middle class Americans in history.

"Our goal is to replace Obamacare with common-sense, free market, patient centered reforms that give power to patients, not government bureaucrats. The president’s law puts millions of Americans on Medicaid, an already deeply flawed and unsustainable program. Medicaid is bankrupting state governments without providing patients with the care they deserve. That’s why I introduced the Medicaid Accountability and Care Act to control spending and incentivize quality care."

Rep. Larry Buschon, M.D. (IN-08)

"It is necessary to repeal this near government takeover of our nation’s health care system for the sake of individuals and states.　 Obamacare is not only a financial disaster for our country, but it doesn't address the fundamental issue which is cost. 　In fact, since the law’s passage costs continue to increase. With repeal we can focus on patient centered, market based reforms that lowers costs and prevents government bureaucrats from coming between you and your doctor."

Rep. Michael Burgess, M.D. (TX-26)

"Americans should have the freedom to make their own health care decisions. In March of 2010 the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law. It was drafted quickly and behind closed doors. It included secret deals, loopholes, drafting errors, and allowed federal agencies to be created without Congressional knowledge or oversight. The bottom line, it was not the way to achieve meaningful reform. In addition, the Supreme Court ruled just last month that the law is in fact a tax – this is after President Obama continually told the American people that it was not a tax.

"The health care system in America needs reform and improvements, but the law that was passed will cost American taxpayers trillions of dollars, will not improve care, nor will it make care more affordable. We need to start fresh and need to address the issues with common sense improvements that focus on the real issues at hand: creating a health care system that is focused on patients instead of payments, quality instead of quantity, affordability instead of cheapness, and innovation instead of stagnation.

"The first step is eliminating bad legislation that simply does not work. So, today I voted to repeal the president’s health care law. It is important that the American people know where their elected representatives stand on this issue and clearly the Senate needs to take up this legislation."

Rep. Harris, M.D. (MD-01)

"Repealing the President’s job-destroying health care law will provide the middle class and small business owners much needed tax relief. The burden placed on small business owners and the middle class by this unpopular law is stifling economic growth in our already weak economy. We should be doing everything we can to avoid increasing taxes on the middle class, and to help small business owners grow the economy and create jobs. Repealing the President’s flawed health care bill does just that."

Rep. Paul Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-01)

"Obamacare must go! Patients do not want or need the heavy hand of the federal government in their doctor’s office. The Supreme Court verified what Conservatives have been saying all along: this is a burdensome $800 billion tax that families and small businesses just can't afford. As a health care provider for over 25 years, I know we need to empower patients to control their own health care choices—that must be the goal of true healthcare reform—and it starts today."

Rep. Nan Hayworth, M.D. (NY-19)

"Many of you know that I’m a doctor. In fact, I’m the only female physician who’s also a Member of Congress. I had the privilege of practicing medicine for 16 years in our Hudson Valley. As a doctor, I fully endorse the goals of the 2010 health law because I believe that every American should have access to good health care and to affordable and portable health insurance.

"And as a Member of Congress, I have a responsibility to my constituents and our country. We have an economy that is critically in need of healing. Roughly 24 million Americans are either unemployed or underemployed. This is not the time to impose two trillion dollars of Washington-generated cost when we already have a massive debt that we cannot afford. This is nothing short of economic malpractice. We can and must do better.

"Repealing and replacing the 2010 health law will provide immediate relief for the millions of Americans who are desperate to find jobs. I’ve talked with small business owners across our Hudson Valley who want to hire and grow but simply cannot when they are faced with the masses of new taxes, penalties, and choking red tape coming now from Washington.

"Today’s vote to repeal the 2010 health care law was not symbolic. It is the will of the American people, and I urge the President and Senate to follow suit. Heed the will of the American people, and repeal this law now and replace it with a common-sense plan that puts our citizens, not the federal government, at the center of health care."

GOP Doctors Caucus: Despite ruling, President’s health care law remains “disastrous policy”

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

GOP Doctors Caucus: Despite ruling, President’s health care law remains “disastrous policy”

Responding to the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold President Obama’s health care law today, members of the GOP Doctors Caucus resolved once more to continue fighting for its full repeal. Placing health care decisions and one-sixth of the economy in the hands of the federal government is catastrophic for our health care system and a fiscal nightmare for taxpayers. As physicians, the Doctors Caucus is committed to enacting step-by-step, patient-centered reforms that increase access, ensure quality of care, and protect the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship.

Co-Chair Rep. Phil Gingrey, M.D. (GA-11)

Simply put, I am confounded by the Supreme Court’s decision. The President and Congressional Democrats repeatedly and steadfastly denied that Obamacare was a tax, yet that is exactly what the Court has deemed it. In doing so, the Court did indeed rewrite the statute and engage in judicial tax-writing, as the dissenting opinion states. I believe that this disappointing ruling will be disastrous for our health care system, patients, and physicians. As a Congressman, a physician, and most importantly, as an American, my top priority will remain the full repeal of President Obama’s health care law. Health care decisions must remain between health care providers and their patients, and out of the hands of Washington bureaucrats.

Co-Chair Rep. Tim Murphy, Ph.D. (PA-18):

Today’s Supreme Court ruling is not a judgment on the merits of the policy, but on the constitutionality of President Obama's new healthcare tax. The bill that was rushed through Congress and signed into law was unpopular, unworkable and unsustainable. It was not designed to deliver the kind of healthcare reforms Americans want and need. Simply put, a healthcare tax is not healthcare reform. Beyond full repeal of the bill, Congress must deliberate on what is truly needed — and is constitutionally sound — to fix our healthcare system rather than just raising taxes to finance it. The American people are demanding a system that delivers the care you need, at a price you can afford, from a doctor you choose — without new taxes or a government takeover.

Rep. Ron Paul, M.D. (TX-14):

I strongly disagree with today’s decision by the Supreme Court, but I am not surprised. The Court has a dismal record when it comes to protecting liberty against unconstitutional excesses by Congress. Today we should remember that virtually everything government does is a 'mandate.' The issue is not whether Congress can compel commerce by forcing you to buy insurance, or simply compel you to pay a tax if you don’t. The issue is that this compulsion implies the use of government force against those who refuse. The fundamental hallmark of a free society should be the rejection of force. In a free society, therefore, individuals could opt out of “Obamacare” without paying a government tribute.

Those of us in Congress who believe in individual liberty must work tirelessly to repeal this national health care law and reduce federal involvement in healthcare generally. Obamacare can only increase third party interference in the doctor-patient relationship, increase costs, and reduce the quality of care. Only free market medicine can restore the critical independence of doctors, reduce costs through real competition and price sensitivity, and eliminate enormous paperwork burdens. Americans will opt out of Obamacare with or without Congress, but we can seize the opportunity today by crafting the legal framework to allow them to do so.

Rep. John Fleming, M.D. (LA-04):

The Supreme Court has confirmed what President Obama and Washington liberals denied: Obamacare is a massive tax increase, and it will force the American people to fund another government-run entitlement. While giving states a break from Obamacare's Medicaid burden, the Court has given no such option to individuals.

This decision strikes at the heart of our liberty and raises taxes for a new government program that has an enormous price tag, and represents one of the greatest government power grabs in ourlifetime. Obamacare accelerates the demise of Medicare, empowers unelected bureaucrats to make decisions about medical care, provides for taxpayer-funded abortions, dramatically expands the role of the IRS to enforce the individual mandate, drives up government spending, does nothing to bring down the rising costs of health care, and inserts the federal government between doctors and patients. Congress and the American people will have the last word on this. I am more committed than ever to fighting for the full repeal of Obamacare.

Rep. Anne Marie Buerkle, R.N. (NY-25):

Today’s Supreme Court ruling on the Affordable Care Act does not settle the matter on healthcare reform. America still needs genuine healthcare reform that actually increases access, improves quality, preserves choice, guards the conscience of Americans, and protects us from government overreach.

Rep. Larry Buschon, M.D. (In-08):

I am disappointed but respectful of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold this near government takeover of our health care system that negatively impacts one sixth of our nation’s economy. Further, the Supreme Court confirming the Obama administration's argument that the individual mandate is a tax violates the promise President Obama made to the American people. Obamacare is a massive tax increase on the middle class both directly and indirectly through higher taxes on employers.

Obamacare is bad for all Americans and will continue to be a major impediment to job creation and getting people back to work. Along with a sluggish economy, these are the major issues affecting our country. I will continue to work to repeal this law in its entirety and implement market-based solutions that focus on lowering cost while maintaining access to the highest quality of care.

House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Tom Price, M.D. (GA-6):

Today's ruling by the Supreme Court has set a dangerous precedent by allowing this administration to continue pursuing its unbridled effort to erode personal freedom and undo the principles upon which this country was founded. President Obama’s health care law trumps personal health care choices in exchange for a more powerful Washington. It will force American citizens to endure diminished quality of care, increased insurance costs, health care rationing and excessive taxation. We have no choice but to exercise every possible legislative option to repeal this disastrous law. To fix the broken status quo in America's health care system, we ought to pursue positive, patient-centered solutions that preserve the sacred doctor-patient relationship, keep unelected bureaucrats from denying access to care, expand access, address costs, assure quality and encourage innovation all without putting the government in control or imposing mandates."

Rep. Paul Broun, M.D. (GA-10):

Today is a sad day for liberty. The Court’s misguided decision is an attack on freedom, an insult to our Constitution, and it will ultimately destroy the best healthcare system in the world. As a physician, I can tell you that if Obamacare takes full effect, it will be bad news for patients and doctors alike. What’s worse is that today we found out that the President lied to us – Obamacare will raise taxes on every man, woman, and child in the United States. That’s why despite the Court’s liberal ruling, I will continue working to completely repeal Obamacare.

Democrats are falsely claiming that Republicans don’t have alternatives to Obamacare – that’s ridiculous. More than fifty percent of Americans think that members of Congress who are doctors and nurses should write new healthcare legislation, and that’s exactly what the GOP Doctors Caucus has been working on in Washington. For example, in just 51 pages, my OPTION Act will make healthcare cheaper for everyone, provide coverage for all Americans, and save Medicare from going broke. We’ll continue to work tirelessly on behalf of the American people until constitutional and affordable healthcare reform passes.

Rep. Paul Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-01):

When Obamacare was sold to the American public by Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and other Democrats, they essentially lied to the public and said it was not a tax. However, in order to pay for this monstrous government takeover, taxes were imposed in a variety of ways, including through the individual mandate that required everyone to buy government insurance or pay penalties. Today, the Court said Congress can impose new taxes and that the individual mandate is constitutional as a new tax. In short, if it walks like a tax, talks like a tax, and quacks like a tax, the Supreme Court will tell us it’s a tax. And so it did. Hard working American people already suffer under a crushing weight of taxes. The last thing they need is yet more taxes. This is what Obamacare is, however, and I will not rest until this excessive and wasteful tax is repealed.

Rep. Diane Black, R.N. (TN-06):

The Supreme Court’s flawed decision is a gross interpretation of Congress’ taxing responsibility under the Constitution. One thing this decision certainly does not change is the need for Obamacare to be repealed – immediately. As a member of the Ways & Means Committee, I will work with my colleagues on repealing this ‘tax.’I have been fighting to fully repeal Obamacare, since I took the oath of office, and I am making progress. I am the author of the first bill signed into law that repeals a healthcare provision in Obamacare, saving taxpayers $13 billion dollars. I will not rest until Congress repeals the law in its entirety.

Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01):

While I am disappointed by the Court’s decision, I respect its authority to determine these matters. The Supreme Court’s decision determined the law’s constitutionality, not whether the law is good policy. Americans have already made up their mind on that issue. A majority favor repealing the law. As a policy, the President’s healthcare law is making things worse by driving up health costs, restricting access to physicians, and making it harder for small businesses to hire workers. The only way to change this is by repealing Obamacare in its entirety. Today’s decision does not change the overwhelming opposition of the American public to Obamacare.

Rep. Dan Benishek, M.D. (MI-01):

The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold President Obama’s health care law is devastating news for Northern Michigan and all of America. As a doctor who treated patients for 30 years, I know the President’s plan is not solving our health care problems. In fact, it is making them worse. The promises the President made about his law have not come true. He promised the law would lower costs, but it hasn’t. He promised individuals would be able to stay on their current health care plan, but millions may lose their employer-provided insurance. He promised the law would improve the economy, but it hasn’t.

There is no way to ‘fix’ this law. It needs to be fully repealed. A full repeal is our only opportunity to enact health care reforms the right way. Health care is becoming prohibitively expensive for too many Northern Michiganders. We have to fix that. But instead of passing a 2,700-page bill that no one understands, let’s take our time and have an honest conversation with the American people about how best to answer our health care challenges.

Rep. Scott DesJarlais, M.D. (TN-04):

This is a sad day for health care, personal freedom and those opposed to the intrusion of big government into their lives. This was a law that we did not ask for, do not need and cannot afford. Today’s ruling does not change the fact that ObamaCare is still bad for patients, bad for taxpayers and destructive to our nation’s health care system. It is now even more critical that we move forward in fully repealing this law and instituting step-by-step, patient-centered solutions that will lower medical costs and expand access to care.Today’s ruling confirms what House Republicans have been saying from the beginning: ObamaCare is now officially the biggest tax increase in American history.

Rep. Michael Burgess, M.D. (TX-26):

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is detrimental to our society, our economy and to the future of health care in America. Since its inception we have seen the strain it has placed on our economy through its ever increasing price tag, provisions which discourage small businesses to hire, and higher costs, and excessive government regulations. President Obama stated multiple times that the penalty associated with the individual mandate was not a tax; however, the Supreme Court today affirmed that indeed it was a tax. In fact, it is a tax increase and a very large tax on middle-class America. When millions are unemployed the last thing America needs is another tax.

This decision by the Supreme Court is paramount and signals to the House of Representatives that it is our responsibility to repeal this over burdensome law which increases taxes on middle class families, and replace it with common-sense policies that encourage economic growth and protect American’s access to care.

Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (TN-01):

Today’s Supreme Court ruling is a major let-down for the American people. I am truly disappointed with the decision because there does not seem to be a limit to what the federal government can compel us to do. The federal government is literally forcing all Americans to buy health insurance. If the government can force individuals to purchase health care, what else will they require the American people to purchase? Even worse, this legislation gives the federal government the right to decide what is “acceptable” coverage for individuals. Those who do not meet these standards will be taxed. The court’s ruling gives renewed urgency to our efforts to repeal this law. If we allow its full implementation, our health care decisions will forever be in the hands of Washington bureaucrats. Despite the disappointing ruling, I am committed to working to repeal the law and address critical health care challenges that face our nation with reforms that lower health care costs.

Rep. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (LA-06):

We heard today that the Supreme Court has upheld the President’s health care law. I consider this unfortunate. Most Americans wished that the Supreme Court had struck down the individual mandate at least. But I will say that this will not deter my efforts or those of House Republicans to replace the President’s health care law with something which achieves the goal of providing access to quality health care at an affordable cost, but to replace it with something which does this through free market mechanisms and not through expanded government and higher taxes. I look forward to listening to you and working with all the American people to achieve these goals.

Rep. Mike Simpson, D.D.S. (ID-02):

While I accept the Supreme Court’s decision, I am disappointed that the government now has the ability to tax American citizens if they don’t purchase a private product and I remain concerned with the precedent that sets for the future. If Americans can be taxed for not purchasing health insurance, the government’s ability to tax, or punish, American citizens as a means of driving their behavior seems unlimited. It is difficult not to see this as an approval of the significant expansion of the power of the federal government into the everyday lives of citizens.

The Washington Times: GOP demands answers from AARP on health deals

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

The Washington Times: GOP demands answers from AARP on health deals

Congressional Republicans are demanding that the country's largest senior advocacy group respond to charges that it sacrificed the interests of older Americans in order to help muster support for President Obama's health care law.

A group of GOP House and Senate lawmakers asked the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) to explain the extent to which it coordinated with the White House to garner support for the Affordable Care Act, the latest GOP attack on the administration for negotiating backroom deals over health care reform.

Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee have charged that the administration heavily influenced the AARP as it advocated for the health care law, releasing emails and documents indicating that top White House officials asked the group to win over support from key lawmakers, contribute to a political action committee advertising the law and reward supportive lawmakers with positive ads later on.

They say the AARP disregarded its 38 million members by working with the White House, citing polls showing that a majority of seniors opposed Mr. Obama's plan.

"If the [committee] report is accurate, we believe AARP failed its membership by allowing White House officials to direct your organization's grassroots and congressional advocacy efforts," Republican Sens. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and John Barrasso of Wyoming and Reps. Charles Boustany of Louisiana, and Phil Gingrey of Georgia wrote in a letter to AARP CEO Barry Rand.

Democrats on the House committee have condemned the efforts to probe lobbying surrounding the health care fight as a partisan waste of time.

Republicans have shifted their attention to the seniors group after releasing a yearlong investigation earlier this month on the administration's negotiations with the nation's top drug companies, where GOP investigators contend top officials threatened Drug firms with steeper taxes if they resisted and promised a better financial deal if they acquiesced.

The probes come as both supporters and opponents of Mr. Obama's health care overhaul plan wait for the Supreme Court to rule on the law's constitutionality in the coming days.

But the materials released by the Republicans in recent weeks also provide a rare insider look at the wheeling and dealing on Capitol Hill as Mr. Obama tried to shepherd his bill through Congress in 2009 and 2010, in the face of near-unanimous GOP opposition.

In their letter to the AARP, the GOP lawmakers asked the group if it tried to influence Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska to vote for the bill on behalf of the White House, whether it gave money to the White House PAC "Healthy Economy Now" and how many lawmakers it thanked through ads for supporting the law.

"These facts suggest a clear conflict of interest on the part of AARP and make us question the justification your organization used to support the president's law," they wrote.

PDF Letter: http://doctorscaucus.gingrey.house.gov/UploadedFiles/AARP_role_in_ACA_letter_final.pdf

Contact: Jen Talaber (202) 225-6063, Jen.Talaber@mail.house.gov

Gingrey, Physicians in Congress Release ‘Doctors’ Note’ on Medicare

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT

GOP Doctors Caucus co-chair Rep. Phil Gingrey, M.D., (GA-11) along with fellow House and Senate Republican physicians, today released a short tutorial highlighting key facts about the Medicare program and detailing challenges the program faces if Washington does not adopt bipartisan solutions to avoid the program’s insolvency.

“Because the program is on a path toward bankruptcy in the near future, the status quo in Medicare is a threat to seniors’ care. Therefore, the greatest threat to seniors’ Medicare benefits is not reform or change, but inaction. In fact, Congress must change Medicare to save the program. We believe Congress has a moral obligation to adopt common-sense changes to strengthen Medicare and protect seniors.”

Signers include: U.S. Senators Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK), John Barrasso, M.D. (R-WY), John Boozman (R-AR), O.D., Rand Paul (R-KY), M.D., House Representatives Phil Gingrey M.D. (GA-11), Phil Roe, M.D. (TN-1), Scott DesJarlais, M.D. (TN-4), Paul Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-1), Diane Black (TN-6), Renee Ellmers (NC-2), John Fleming, M.D. (LA-4), Charles Boustany, M.D. (LA-7), Dan Benishek, M.D. (MI-1), Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-8), and Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-1).

Read the ‘Doctors’ Note’ here.