Empowering Patients First Act

A Patient-Centered Solution


RSC Chairman Tom Price has introduced H.R. 3400, the Empowering Patients First Act.  This is another positive solution from the Republican Study Committee that grants access to affordable, quality health care for all Americans, and is centered around the patient.  By increasing patients’ control over their health decisions, we will make coverage more affordable, accessible and responsive, while offering more choices and the highest-quality care.

This solution is centered around four main principles:

#1:  Access to Coverage for All Americans

  • The Empowering Patients First Act makes the purchase of health care financially feasible for all Americans, covers pre-existing conditions, protects employer-sponsored insurance, and shines light on existing health care plans.

#2:  Coverage is Truly Owned by the Patient

  • This legislation grants greater choice and portability to the patient, and also gives employers more flexibility in the benefits offered.  It also expands the individual market by creating several pooling mechanisms. 

#3:  Improve the Health Care Delivery Structure

  • Physicians know the best care for their patient.  That's why this legislation establishes doctor-led quality measures, ensuring that you get the quality care you need.  It also reimburses physicians to ensure the stability of your care, and encourages healthier lifestyles by allowing employers to offer discounts for healthy habits through wellness and prevention programs.

#4:  Rein in Out-of-Control Costs

  • A key concern in positive reform is reining in out-of control costs.  This legislation does this by reforming the medical liability system.  Also, the cost of the plan is completely offset through decreasing defensive medicine, savings from health care efficiencies, sifting out waste, fraud and abuse, plus an annual one-percent non defense discretionary spending step down.   

 

Additional Information:

Short Summary
Detailed Summary
Section by Section Summary
Full Bill Text

RSC Press Release
Steny Shivers, Shakes at Patient-Centered Health Care Solution
Side-by-Side Comparison with the House Democrat Government Takeover (H.R. 3590)
POLITICO - "How the GOP Wants to Fix Health Care"
Chairman Price Accepts Obama's Invitation to Examine Health Care Proposals Line-by-Line
American Thinker - "Power to the Patients, Please"
Human Events - "Health Care: The Conservative Alternative in the House"
Article from the Heritage Foundation
Health Care Solutions by RSC Members
Patient-Centered Amendments to H.R. 3200 Offered by RSC Members
Democrats Defeat Amendments Reflecting the Promises of the President
Conservative Concerns to the Democrats' Government Takeover of Health Care and its Alleged Fixes
RSC Health Care Documents

Letters of Support:
From Americans for Tax Reform
From the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste
From FRC Action
From the Christian Medical Association
From the Christian Coalition of America
Article from the Heritage Foundation