Health Care

Getting new health insurance premium notices each year is never a pleasant situation--the costs keep going up, with no end in sight. Prescription drug costs are a major part of that puzzle, but government regulations and medical malpractice premiums also play a large part.

Congressman Westmoreland strongly supports reforming the medical liability system so doctors have the freedom to make decisions without fear of lawsuits, and are not forced to move away from some areas because of high insurance premiums. Toward this end, he is a co-sponsor of the HEALTH Act (H.R. 5), which would make some major reforms in how medical malpractice cases are handled in the federal judicial system. H.R. 5 passed in the House of Representatives with his strong support, and has been sent to the U.S. Senate for further consideration.

But we also need to continue to pursue alternatives to allow individuals to make more decisions about their care. Health Savings Accounts are one way to reduce costs for some, but Association Health Plans that allow small businesses to band together to get health coverage are another major way we can assist with reducing health care costs.