Pryce Hails Passage of Measure to Curb Health Care Costs in Ohio

Legislation addresses rising costs of health care in Ohio and across America

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-Upper Arlington) spent yesterday morning on the House Floor to manage the rule for and speak in support of legislation that will help curb the rising costs of health insurance in Ohio.  Pryce’s full floor statement is attached.

The three measures included in the Health Security Initiative would reform the medical liability system in the U.S., control health costs for businesses and employees, and provide employees with more flexibility in their health care spending.  The House passed two of the measures yesterday and the third today.  

“Today, almost 44 million Americans have no health insurance.  The majority are hard-working men and women just trying to make a living, provide for their families, and offer their children opportunities that they may not have had.  The major reason people do not have health insurance is because they or their employer can’t afford it.  We need solutions,” Pryce said.

“In my opinion, the most critical part of the initiative we passed in the House addresses a dangerous problem in our medical liability system that’s rapidly eliminating access to quality and affordable health care.  The medical liability crisis in America is virtually everywhere, but the dangerous effects of this faulty system are most evident in Ohio, and in the area of prenatal care and delivery,” Pryce said.   

Pryce continued, “In Ohio, insurance premiums for doctors have increased by 60 percent in the past two years, giving physicians no choice but to cut back their practices or close their doors all together.  These skyrocketing premium costs have proven especially detrimental to OB/GYNs, forcing expectant moms to forgo the essential prenatal care they need.  Our initiative will help keep doctors in their offices and pregnant women their appointments.

“We saw a barrier standing in the way of access to quality and affordable health care, and today we took a step closer toward knocking it down.”

H.R. 4279, legislation allowing workers to carry over up to $500 in unused money in their flexible spending accounts at the end of a year, passed by a vote of 273-152. 

H.R. 4280, legislation that would hold down the skyrocketing costs of medical liability insurance, passed the House by a vote of 229-197. 

H.R. 4281, legislation allowing small businesses to join together through Association Health Plans to purchase health insurance for their employees, passed the House by a vote of 252-162. 

 The rule Rep. Pryce managed on the floor allowed the House to consider the three separate health bills, which will be rolled into one large bill to send to the Senate for its consideration.