Rep. Pascrell dispells misinformation about Health Care reform - 7/28/2009

Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to dispel misinformation that has been propagated about the health care system. I've heard many of my colleagues across the aisle claim that the Democrats' health care proposal will result in rationing. Let's address it. How many millions of people have put off getting checkups, have avoided doing necessary followups, have delayed needed care or have failed to get the prescriptions their doctors have ordered for them? Why? Because we ration care every day in this country now. If you want to talk about rationing, listen to these numbers: Forty-five percent of Americans went without needed care because of costs in this country in 2007. That's rationing. Fifty-three percent of Americans cut back on their health care in the last year because of costs. That's rationing. Between 2000 and 2008, 5 million families filed for bankruptcy because of medical bills. That's rationing. About one-third of the uninsured have a chronic disease. They are six times less likely to receive care for a health problem than are the insured. That's rationing. As many as 22,000 Americans die each year because they don't have health insurance. My brothers and sisters, that's rationing.

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