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Health Care
In my floor speech above, I talk about the path we must take to create affordable, quality health care.
The new health care law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590), represents one of the most comprehensive expansions of government power we have seen in our nation’s history. The legislation failed to address both the high costs and quality care in a fiscally responsible manner. H.R. 3590 runs completely contrary to the same principles of limited government and free market upon which our nation was founded and to which that American people demanded last November.
On January 19, I voted in support of and cosponsored H.R. 2, the “Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act.” As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I intend to take steps toward real healthcare reform – sustainable, constitutional restructuring that allows for individual choice when purchasing your healthcare.
Less than two months later, the House passed the 1099 repeal, which later passed the House and was signed by the President. I was proud to cosponsor the repeal of the burdensome 1099 requirements that were included in H.R. 3590 because it rolled back one of the most illogical requirements that Washington Democrats snuck into the health care bill last year.
"This legislation is a significant step toward restoring confidence in our economy for small businesses as well as the taxpayers and would reduce federal spending by $20 billion over ten years and reduce taxes by $19.7 billion.
The path toward affordable health care starts with allowing Americans to buy insurance across state lines; providing reduced premiums for individuals and small businesses; protecting seniors and those with pre-existing conditions; enacting real tort reform, which is a key element to lowering costs; and creating reforms that will protect the doctor-patient relationship.
Reforming Medical Liability Reform
In May 2011, the Energy and Commerce Committee approved the Help Efficient, Accessible, Low Cost, Timely Health Care (HEALTH) Act, H.R. 5, which is a bill I cosponsored and would restructure the current medical liability system. The Congressional Budget Office expects this bill will lower premiums for medical liability insurance, reduce the use of unnecessary health care services and could reduce our deficit by more than $60 billion over the next decade. This legislationis currently awaiting a vote on the House floor.
Increasing Competition in the Marketplace
In order to receive quality care for the most affordable rate, , individuals should be allowed to shop anywhere in the country for their health insurance. Therefore, I am a proud cosponsor of H.R. 371, The Health Care Control Act of 2011, which would allow individuals to purchase health care coverage across state lines. A 2008 University of Minnesota study stated that by allowing interstate purchase of health insurance, it could increase the number of insured Americans by more than 12 million. Increasing competition in the marketplace will lead to lower premiums and ultimately, improved health insurance coverage
In the months ahead, I look forward to working on the Energy & Commerce Committee to enact real reform that reduces bureaucracy and provides Americans with improved and affordable options when choosing their health care.
Be sure to check out more videos below about my work on the Energy and Commerce Committee:
Kinzinger, House Freshmen Call on President Obama to End "MediSCARE" Tactics
Kinzinger: Congress must work together to reform and save Medicare for future generations
Rep. Kinzinger Discusses the Health Care Repeal with Neil Cavuto
