Health Care

There's no question that health care costs are increasing at a rapid pace, and many families and small businesses have little or no choices available in their health care needs.

Health insurance costs for employers have been rising by 10 percent per year since 2000, causing businesses to hire fewer workers and forcing too many families to go without insurance.

That's why I support legislation and market-based policies that are will lower health care costs for everyone and improve access for uninsured and underinsured individuals.

Some of the policies to lower health care costs and increase access that I support include:

Small Business Health Plans: I am a cosponsor of the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2007 (H.R. 241), which allows small businesses to purchase health insurance like large employers and offer their employees better health coverage options at a reasonable cost.  By pooling together, employers spread the risk for costly medical procedures over larger groups of people.  The Congressional Budget Office estimates that small businesses will experience premium reductions of 15-25 percent through these plans.  The legislation passed the House in the 109th Congress but has not yet come to the floor for a vote in the 110th Congress.

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs): I strongly support allowing individuals to have greater control over their health care decisions and spending.  That's why I support health savings accounts, which bring more competition to the insurance market.  HSAs encourage saving for future health care expenses and allow the patient to receive needed care without a "gatekeeper" to determine what benefits are allowed.  I am a cosponsor of the Health Insurance Affordability Act (H.R. 2302), which allows individuals to deduct premiums for high deductible health plans for amounts paid into a health savings account.

Medical Malpractice Reform: Frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits against doctors and hospitals are driving up the costs of health care for everyone and forcing many doctors to leave their practices altogether.  Many doctors are forced to practice defensive medicine and order unnecessary and costly tests to protect themselves from the threat of litigation.  I am an original cosponsor of the Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2007 (H.R. 2580), which would place reasonable limits on punitive damages and ensure the speedy resolution of claims by limiting the number of years a person has to file a health care liability.

Vision Care: I know all too well how important it is to have a regular eye exam. When I was young, my own eyesight problems caused me to struggle in school until those problems were properly diagnosed and corrected.  As a member of the Congressional Vision Caucus, I have been a strong supporter of early childhood vision testing.  I am a cosponsor of the Vision Care for Kids Act (H.R. 507), which passed the House in October 2007, that establishes a $75 million grant program to encourage states to upgrade their student vision screening or exam requirements and their follow-up treatments.  I have also been honored by the American Optometric Association with their "AOA Health Care Leadership Award" for my support of early childhood vision testing.

Cancer Research: While we've made great strides in cancer research over the last several decades, we still have a long way to go.  I am a strong supporter of increasing funding for cancer research and have also cosponsored legislation that would require health plans to provide a minimum hospital stay following mastectomies (H.R. 758, the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2007).  I've also cosponsored a resolution (H.Res. 335), which passed the House in November 2007, that recognizes lung cancer as a public health priority and encourages increased investment in lung cancer research.

Health Care Roundtable: I formed a roundtable group, comprised of local doctors and health care professionals, to discuss issues facing our nation's health care system.  My health care roundtable meets on a regular basis to discuss innovative solutions for all aspects of our health care system, both locally and nationally.

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Office Locations

  • Washington, D.C.

    115 Cannon House
    Office Building
    Washington, D.C. 20515
    Phone: 202-225-2536
    Fax: 202-226-0439
  • Cape Coral, FL

    804 Nicholas Parkway E.
    Suite 1
    Cape Coral, FL 33990
    Phone: 239-573-5837
    Fax: 239-573-9125
  • Naples, FL

    3299 Tamiami Trail East
    Suite 105
    Naples, FL 34112
    Phone: 239-252-MACK (6225)
    Fax: 239-252-8065
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