Health Care

Mica on Health Care Reform

I strongly believe that health care reform is vital and necessary for our nation.  I do not believe expanding the role of government and adding more than 5,000 bureaucrats in Washington will reduce costs and improve care for all Americans.  I voted for and will continue to support the repeal and replacement of Obamacare because, as it is implemented, this law will increase regulations and raise the cost of health care for the average American.  It is estimated that Americans will be face an average health care premium increase of $2,400 and continue to erode an already weak economy with $500 billion in new taxes, and increase an overburdened deficit with $1 trillion in new government spending.  

Many Americans have already lost their health care policies and few have signed up for the new federal plans.  Countless Americans attempting to enroll in coverage have faced an unresponsive enrollment system that already cost tax payers $500 million.  Contrary to press reports, Members of Congress must sign up for Obamacare or find their own private insurance and are prohibited from participating in the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program.  While with a divided government, Obamacare may not be repealed.  However, dramatic reform to bring better access and lower health insurance premiums should be on the 2014 Congressional agenda.  While I understand there are several provisions in the current health care law that will assist some Americans, I believe we can do better.

In the 112th Congress, the House of Representatives passed, with my support, a resolution instructing committees to provide better solutions, I believe this resolution still provides an excellent blue print for future health reform proposals going forward.

The following guiding principles for reform must be included in all health care reform proposals are: (1) increase the number of insured Americans; (2) ensure those with pre-existing conditions have access to affordable health coverage; (3) create more jobs and greater economic growth by not placing needless regulatory burdens to improve coverage; (4) allow individuals maximum choice and lower health care premiums which only increased competition provides; (5) maintain a person’s right to choose by not allowing the government to force individuals away from plans they like and prefer to keep; (6) reform the medical liability system to reduce unnecessary and wasteful health care spending; (7) keep the government out of patients sick beds by protecting the doctor-patient relationship; (8) provide the States greater flexibility to administer Medicaid programs; (9) expand incentives to encourage personal responsibility for health care coverage and costs; (10) maintain the 30 year Federal policy that prohibits taxpayer funding of abortions and provide conscience protections for health care providers; (11) eliminate duplicative government programs and wasteful spending; (12) do not accelerate the insolvency of entitlement programs or increase the tax burden on Americans; and (13) provide a permanent fix to the Medicare physician payment formula in legislation.

By following these principles and returning health care decision making to the American people, we can increase both access and affordability to the best health care in the world.