Rep. Hayworth's efforts on health care supported

The current debate over the Affordable Healthcare Act (i.e., “Obamacare”) seems to have a lot of rhetoric and very few answers to effectively dealing with the cost of healthcare. The troubling aspects of Obamacare include the cost (trillions of dollars) adding to our national debt, potential cost to individuals and businesses, added bureaucracy to an already bloated government, and increased regulations.

As a provider, I have already watched my ability to help patients be hindered by increased paperwork, increased regulation, and the fact that I am paid less per patient visit than I was 12 years ago. Add to this trend the mandated patient advisory board required under Obamacare and there will likely be further limitations to patient care and to payments to providers.

U.S. Rep. Nan Hayworth, R-Bedford, offers a four-point alternative to the current plan. As a physician, consumer of healthcare and a practitioner at one time, she also understands the complexities of the issue.

First, she is in favor of expanding health savings accounts similar to what has been done successfully in the state of Indiana. Secondly, she is in favor of reforming medical liability, which contributes greatly to the overhead of practitioners. Third, her plan would allow consumers to purchase health care across state lines, resulting in lower premiums. Finally, she would create high-risk pools and create state funding for these individuals. These are excellent and necessary ideas for reforming health care. I strongly support her and her efforts.

Paul Aquino

Wappingers Falls

This letter to the editor was published in the Poughkeepsie Journal and on PoughkeepsieJournal.com on August 15, 2012 and can be found here.