Aaron Schock

Health Care

As a member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, I am committed to repealing the fundamentally flawed and unconstitutional health law and replacing it with meaningful, commonsense legislation that will reduce the overall cost of your health care, create affordable opportunities for Americans with pre-existing conditions and ensure seniors don’t bear the burden of higher Medicare taxes.

Congressman Schock discusses President Obama's Fiscal Year 2013 
Budget Proposal with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius 
During a Ways and Means Hearing (Video) 

Note: Click image to watch video

I have cosponsored and supported numerous pieces of legislation that repeals the entire health law as well as specific programs that were created or funded by it. While the Senate has not acted on these pieces of legislation, there are areas of bipartisan agreement.

Through my work on the Ways and Means Committee, I advocated for and supported last year’s repeal of the onerous 1099 reporting requirement. This provision required all businesses to submit a separate IRS 1099 reporting form for every business-to-business transaction totaling $600 or more per year. The 1099 reporting requirements would have resulted in small business owners having to fill out 1099 forms for basic businesses expenses, such as phone and internet services, shipping costs, and office supplies. I supported the 1099 repeal, both in committee and on the House floor, because businesses do not need further regulations draining their already limited resources.

I hope similar bipartisan consensus can occur with a repeal of the unsustainable long term care insurance program, the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act, which the President’s own Department of Health and Human Services announced it could not move forward on. After the Ways and Means Committee passed bipartisan legislation repealing the CLASS Act, H.R. 1173, I penned an article explaining the numerous problems with the CLASS Act. I am pleased the House passed H.R. 1173 and I look forward to further action by the U.S. Senate.

Despite having been signed in March 2010, the American people still do not know the full impact of the President’s health law.  Transparency is one reason I authored a letter to Governor Quinn that was signed by a majority of the Illinois Congressional delegation. In the letter we asked him to provide Illinois citizens with the full impact of Medicaid’s expansion on Illinois already strained budget. Some estimates find Illinois taxpayers will spend $10 billion more on Medicaid than it otherwise have spent. This additional spending comes at a time when the State of Illinois has been forced to delay payments to providers because it does not have enough money to pay them on time.

Currently 7 out of 10 Americans receive their health insurance through their employer yet the new health law creates perverse incentives for companies to drop their employee health coverage. For example, companies who currently pay thousands of dollars in their share of an employee’s health coverage will find it is cheaper to pay the $2,000 fine per employee rather than pay the $12,000 in family coverage. This means, that despite President Obama’s promise, Americans who like their current health coverage won’t be able to keep it. Businesses cannot grow under these new mandates, and neither can our economy.

Aaron tours the Simmons Cancer Institute  on the campus of Southern Illinois University

I am a cosponsor of H.R. 397, the Reform Americans Can Afford Act, which makes several common sense changes to our health care system. These changes include the establishment of Universal Access Programs that guarantee access to affordable health care for Americans with pre-existing conditions. It also prevents insurers from cancelling a policy unjustly because of simple errors that were made on the insurance application forms. H.R. 397 also allows Americans to buy health insurance across state lines so Illinoisans will be free to purchase health insurance from another state that may better suit their family’s health needs. The legislation also levels the playing field between large companies and small businesses by giving small businesses the power to pool their resources and offer health insurance at lower prices. Unlike the current health law, H.R. 397 does not raise taxes, create a mandate on all Americans to buy health insurance or cut Medicare. I believe legislation like H.R. 397 is a better way to fix our health system as it helps to reduce overall health costs.

Listen here to Congressman Schock's reaction to being in the chamber
during the Supreme Court proceedings on the Affordable Care Act (audio)

Click here for information on the Supreme Court's decision regarding President Obama's Affordable Care Act. 

It is important for patients to know their medical providers have access to the same resources regardless if the service is performed in urban or in rural areas. In order to help level the playing field, I authored no-cost legislation giving rural health clinics access to the same federal incentive programs to purchase and use electronic medical records.

For today’s seniors, I believe they should continue to have access to their local neighborhood pharmacist for their diabetes testing supplies. Unfortunately, current law puts that relationship at risk. I introduced H.R. 1936- the Medicare Access to Diabetes Supplies Act to permanently exempt diabetes testing supplies from the competitive bidding program and allow seniors to maintain their existing relationship with their local pharmacist.  

One way to reduce our nation’s health bill is to encourage our fellow Americans to take greater responsibility for their health care. I authored legislation expanding the use of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to health sharing ministries. HSAs are pre-tax savings accounts from which individuals can use to pay for their out-of-pocket health costs. HSAs incentivize people to be better consumers of health care.

Obesity rates have risen sharply and will add millions of dollars to our health care system. Illinois is ranked 4^th in the nation for childhood obesity and 23^rd for adult obesity. I support policies making it easier for all Americans to live healthier lifestyles. I am a cosponsor of H.R. 2649, legislation providing a tax reimbursement for qualified physical activity expenses as well as H.R.  1057, legislation integrating physical education in our nation’s schools.  I will continue to support proposals that encourage the creation or enhancement of prevention and wellness programs so all people can better manage their health.