(Washington, D.C.) Today, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers introduced legislation (H.Res. 1228) recommending the five principles for improving our country’s health care system.

“As your representative in Congress, I want you to know that increasing access to quality and affordable health care is one of my top priorities. America can have a health care system that is characterized by better prevention, coordinated care, electronic health records, cutting-edge treatments -- and lower costs,” McMorris Rodgers said. “I believe by focusing on access, affordability, quality, accountability and choice, we can offer an alternative to a government-run, one-size-fits-all health care system for America.

Details for the five point plan are as follows:

Access to health care in preventive, emergency and rehabilitative settings in rural and urban areas.

• This means a long-term solution that will accurately reimburse physicians for care they provide to Medicare beneficiaries and veterans;
• Advancing critical health care training programs to retain health care professionals especially in rural areas

Affordability to ensure the cost of health care is within the reach of families and individuals.

• This means a providing tax credits to help people buy and pay for health insurance;
• Association Health Plans and Small Business Health Plans allow businesses to band together to purchase health insurance that is more affordable and that will give people more continuity of coverage;
• Medical liability reform to reduce the lawsuits that are driving up the cost of health care

Quality to emphasize safe and effective health service with measurable results.

• This can be done through health information technology, like electronic medical records and personal health records which can save lives and provide cost efficiency through decreased paperwork, less duplication and streamlined reporting.

Accountability that holds ourselves, our dollars and our programs responsible for our health care.

• The federal government, the states, and health insurers should build new incentives into health plans to encourage wellness and prevention and to provide incentives for people to make smart choices involving their health, health care, and health coverage.

Choice that allows consumers to pick the best health care plan and options to meet their individual and family needs.

• This means expanding health savings accounts, making health insurance portable from job to job and from state to state and allowing people to cross state lines to purchase health insurance.

McMorris Rodgers will present her plan during the 3rd Annual Project Access Physician Recognition Dinner on May 28th.

Contact:
Destry Henderson
202-225-2006
202-279-0418