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Washington, DC – Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-Upper Arlington) today released the following opinion letter: Americans rightfully expect a lot from their health care system: we want high quality, low costs, quick access, numerous options, and simplicity. With this in mind, the House will dedicate next week to considering a number of measures designed to eliminate some of the barriers that impede our ideal health care system. Malpractice insurance costs for doctors continue to plague our nation’s health care system, drive doctors to states with lower premiums, and contribute to escalating costs throughout our health care industry. While it is important for patients to have recourse when health care professionals make mistakes, frivolous lawsuits have caused the cost of malpractice insurance to skyrocket and consequently, many doctors cannot afford this coverage. In a recent report on the issue, the Ohio Department Insurance found that: · Four out of 10 Ohio physicians have retired or plan to retire in the next three years due to rising liability insurance premiums; · 66% of physicians have turned down or referred high-risk procedure patients elsewhere; and · 75% of physicians order more – and sometimes unnecessary -- tests to better defend their medical decisions, a practice known as “defensive medicine.” To combat this problem, we expect to consider H.R. 5, the Medical Liability Reform Act, legislation to allow patients to recover economic damages such as future medical expenses and loss of future earnings while establishing a cap on non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, of $250,000. It would also place reasonable limits on punitive damages to be the greater of two times the amount of economic damages awarded or $250,000. Another measure we will consider during Health Week will enable small businesses to pool their purchasing power in association health plans (AHPs) to buy health insurance for their employees, allowing economies of scale to bring the costs down. In addition, by pooling their insurance risks together, the employers may be able to increase their bargaining power with carriers and share administrative functions resulting in lower premiums. When you consider that 60% of the uninsured in this country work for small businesses, it is absolutely imperative that we enact measures to make health care more affordable for small business owners. Congress understands that when presented with choices and options in their health care, Americans’ savvy consumerism will help drive down health care costs. To that end, we expect to take up a bill that that will eliminate a prohibition barring consumers from purchasing more affordable health insurance offered in another state. This measure would enable consumers to shop online for a health insurance plan that best meets their needs. We also expect to reauthorize a grant program that will enable states to continue to establish health insurance pools for high-risk individuals. These insurance pools serve a small, but very important segment of the individual insurance market – those few individuals who are uninsured and have high-risk health conditions such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease or other chronic illness which cause them to be turned down when they try to buy insurance. Nearly 200,000 Americans are currently insured through these state programs. Finally, we will consider legislation to improve patient safety by helping to limit harmful drug interactions and another measure to encourage voluntary reporting of medical errors. These critically important efforts will build upon previous improvements we have already made, such as the enactment of the new Medicare prescription drug benefit that in less than six months will offer seniors the first voluntary prescription drug benefit in Medicare’s history. As we celebrate Medicare’s 40th birthday next week, the drug benefit represents a monumental step in an historic year. On a more personal note, I am proud to report that legislation I authored, the Patient Navigator, Outreach, and Chronic Disease Prevention Act, is now the law of the land. The new law will establish a 5 year, $25 million demonstration program for patient navigator services through Community Health Care Centers, National Cancer Institute Centers and Rural Health Clinics across the country. Patient navigators assist people in obtaining the coverage they need through the Medicaid system, or other services, such as cancer screenings or counseling about chronic disease prevention. Patient Navigators are individuals who know the local community and can bridge the linguistic barriers for many previously unaware of available healthcare options. Good things are indeed happening to improve access to health care in Ohio and across the country. But, much more needs to be done. Health care touches every life, and Americans deserve the very best. |
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