11.12.2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt, Chairman of the GOP Health Care Solutions Group, has cosponsored HR 1086, the HEALTH Act, sponsored by Congressman Phil Gingrey, MD (Ga.). Gingrey’s bill will help manage health care costs through medical liability reform.
Blunt is highlighting a health care bill he supports each day for two weeks. Blunt’s Health Care Solutions are designed to improve what is working and fix what is broken in Americans’ health care.
“Controlling costs is a fundamental element of health care reform. Dr. Gingrey’s bill will place caps on judgments to help bring down costs,” Blunt said. “The Gingrey plan will prevent double recoveries and limit the number of years a plaintiff can file suit.”
“The threat of a lawsuit leads some physicians to practice ‘defensive medicine,’ which does not result in the best care for patients,” Blunt continued. “There is bipartisan consensus that medical liability reform is an important part of lowering health care costs and enhancing patient care.”
Blunt continued: “Over the weekend, House Democrats passed their 2,000-plus-page government-takeover of health care. Nothing I’m proposing is hidden in a 14-inch-thick bill, so let’s have an honest conversation about how to make health care more affordable and accessible for everyone, regardless of pre-existing condition. Managing costs is an important part of that equation.”
Gingrey’s bill was a primary component of the Republican amendment to the Democrats’ health care bill on Saturday. The amendment, known as a “motion to recommit,” failed by a vote of 247-187.
Yesterday, Blunt highlighted HR 3823, legislation to expand choices by providing Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) beneficiaries assistance in purchasing private insurance, rather than forcing them to take the government-run option. For more details on all of Blunt’s solutions, click here.
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