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Health Care
It is clear that everyone is passionate about their health care and the system needs reforms. It is important to address specific health reforms individually as opposed to pushing through a sweeping overhaul all at once. I support free-market health care solutions that provide for affordable and accessible health care for all Americans. I support the following bills that have been introduced in the House of Representatives.
Congressman Hoekstra’s Seven Solutions Plan for Health Care
Association Health Plans (AHPs)
Small businesses should have access to the same buying power as large employers. This concept is formally known as Association Health Plans (AHPs).
Solution: HR. 2607, the Small Business Health Fairness Act (Rep. Sam Johnson, R-TX) (64 pages)
• Provides for the establishment and governance of AHPs, which allow for small businesses to join together to establish health care purchasing tools to negotiate better prices.
• Makes health insurance more affordable and accessible for small businesses.
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)
HSAs provide for consumer-driven health care coverage. HSAs are owned by individuals and used to pay for current and future medical expenses. The current House health care proposal would eliminate HSAs.
Solution: H.R. 3610, The Health Savings and Affordability (HSA) Act (Rep. Steve Austria, R-OH) (17 pages)
• Expands HSAs to allow for a tax deduction for those purchasing HSAs, catch-up contributions, HSA premiums to be paid with HSA funds, and provides a tax credit for physical fitness programs to highlight wellness.
• HSAs are portable which means individuals can take their health care coverage with them when they leave their job.
Interstate Sale of Health Insurance
The cost of health insurance is increased by excessive state regulations. Such state mandates increase the cost of insurance, which, in turn, increases the number of Americans who are priced out of the health insurance market.
Solution: H.R. 3217, the Health Care Choice Act (Rep. John Shadegg, R-AZ) (30 pages)
• Provides for cooperative governing of individual health insurance coverage offered across state lines.
• Empowers consumers by giving them the ability to purchase an affordable health insurance policy with a wide variety of options to choose from.
• Purchasing of health insurance would be made simple and would be available online, by mail, over the phone, or with their hometown insurance agent.
Medical Malpractice Reform
Too many doctors are forced to practice defensive medicine and face the constant threat of lawsuits and unsustainable medical liability insurance rates, which result in millions of dollars in unnecessary tests and procedures.
Solution: H.R. 1086, the Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act (Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-GA) (26 pages)
• Creates reasonable guidelines, not caps, on punitive damages. A plaintiff may recover punitive damages totaling either $250,000 or double the amount of economic damages awarded, whichever is greater.
• Decreases health care costs by preventing unfair double recoveries (i.e., a plaintiffs being awarded future lost wages both by their insurance company and by a court judgment).
• Does not limit compensation for 100 percent of plaintiffs’ economic losses, their medical costs, lost wages, future lost wages, rehabilitation costs and any other economic out-of-pocket loss suffered as a result of a health care injury.
• Would not preempt any state law that caps non-economic damages, such as those for pain and suffering.
Multi-share Health Care Models
Some small businesses are not able to provide health insurance for their employees due to the high cost of health insurance plans. Multi-share health programs provide coverage for low income individuals whose small business employer does not offer health insurance.
Solution: H.R. 2925, Communities Building Access Act (Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-MI) (16 pages)
• Awards grants to create and maintain multi-share health care programs.
• The cost of health care is distributed among employers, employees, and the community.
Pre-existing Conditions
Many Americans are not eligible for health insurance coverage based upon pre-existing or high-need medical conditions.
Solution: H.R. 3741, Assuring Coverage for Americans with Pre-existing Conditions Act (Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-MI) (3 pages)
• Would provide continued funding for the creation and continuation of state high-risk pool and reinsurance programs.
• Would allow states who do not currently have a high-risk pool to set one up and those who have them in place to provide continued coverage for those individuals who have pre-existing conditions.
• State based high-risk pools spread the cost of care for those with pre-existing conditions and chronic illnesses among all insurers in the market.
Tax Equity
Employer-provided health insurance is tax-exempt, but individuals do not receive a tax incentive for the purchase of health insurance.
Solution: H.R. 3218, the Improving Health Care for All Americans Act (Rep. John Shadegg, R-AZ) (24 pages)
• Would allow individuals to receive a tax credit for qualified health insurance for individuals, spouses and dependents.
• The maximum tax credit would be $2,500 for individual tax returns or $5,000 for joint returns.
Hoekstra Health Care Daily
Hoekstra Health Care Daily -- Procedural Tricks
Hoekstra Health Care Daily -- Democrats 'Giddy' About Cost of Health Overhaul
Hoekstra Health Care Daily -- Supporting Senate Backroom Deals
Hoekstra Health Care Daily -- Bill Will Allow Taxpayer Funded Abortions
Hoekstra Health Care Daily -- By The Numbers
Pete's Health Care Facts
Health Care Fact -- Government-Run Health Care Impedes on Patient-Doctor Relationship
Health Care Fact -- Democrat Health Plan Allows for Abortion
Health Care Fact -- Health Bill Will Cut Services to America’s Seniors
Health Care Fact -- States Forced to Pay for Medicaid Expansion
Health Care Fact -- Small Businesses Lose Under Democrat Health Care Bill
Health Care Fact -- Speaker Pelosi's Overhaul by the Numbers
Health Care Fact -- House Democrats Release Health Care Bill
Health Care Fact -- The Power of the Health Commissioner
Health Care Fact -- House Proposal Will Hurt Small Businesses
Health Care Fact -- Hawaii Exempt From Employer Mandate
Health Care Fact -- No Vote on Health Care Before September
Health Care Fact -- GOVERNMENT WILL DECIDE YOUR TREATMENT
Health Care Fact -- By The Numbers
Health Care Reform Cost?Jobs
Health Care Fact -- Bills Increase the Cost of Health Care
Health Care Fact -- ABORTIONS FOR ALL
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