U.S. CONGRESSMAN JOHN C. FLEMING, M.D.

Shreveport, LA, Jun 12, 2010 - Like the enterprising weavers who promised the emperor new clothes with extraordinary powers, Democrats in Congress have promised more than they can deliver.

They claim the new health care reform law will lower health care costs, keep insurance premiums from skyrocketing and provide affordable health insurance for every American, all while reducing the deficit.

While the claims are extraordinary, the health reform law is not. In April, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released their analysis of the new law and found the legislation will increase government health care spending, set up provider shortages and limit access to providers because of low Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement rates.

And that is just the beginning. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the official scorekeeper for Congress, estimated your families' health insurance premiums will rise by as much as $2,100 annually.

The new law also imposes job-killing tax increases on businesses when nearly one out of 10 Americans is out of work. These increases have led companies such as Caterpillar, John Deere and AT&T to announce losses of hundreds of millions of dollars or more and others such as White Castle to announce significant expected job cuts.

In an ironic development, a health insurance provider based in Richmond, Va., recently announced it was closing its doors because of stringent new regulations and future uncertainty created by the law.

And what about the deficit? While the CBO originally estimated the bill would reduce the deficit by $143 billion over 10 years, that figure is misleading. First, it relies in part on future funds for Social Security recipients to "reduce the deficit," a budget gimmick only Washington, D.C., can get away with.

Then in May, CBO concluded it had underestimated the cost of the new law by at least $115 billion (a figure that does not include 52 line items for which costs have yet to be determined). Further, it relies on cost "savings" the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the very agency tasked with implementing some of the savings, called "unrealistic" and "doubtful."

Add to all of this the fact that the new law altogether ignored a fatal flaw in the American health care system — our government's failure to pay doctors who are treating our senior citizens. Merely freezing the current reimbursement paid to providers who see Medicare patients would cost an additional $275.8 billion.

The bottom line is the cost has not been fully counted. What we do know is the new health care reform law will increase health care expenditures, raise your families insurance premiums, increase the deficit, cut senior citizens' benefits, expand Medicaid — a program already facing a provider shortage because of low government reimbursements — and be financed with $568 billion in job-killing tax increases, a half trillion dollar slash to senior citizens' Medicare coverage and by raiding Social Security.

Americans understand this, and 63 percent want the new law repealed. It is a fundamentally failed concept and Americans are rejecting its socialistic tenants.

These tenants are further underscored by the president's recent nomination of Dr. Donald Berwick to head Medicare and Medicaid. Berwick called the British National Health System (BNHS) "a global treasure." As we all know, the BNHS is noted for long lines and rationing.

It is time for a reality check. It is plain to see the emperor has no clothes.

Rep. John Fleming, R-Minden, is a primary care physician and represents Louisiana's 4th Congressional District. Send comments by mail to 1023 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515.