Health Care

Giving patients and doctors control; not bureaucrats.

Health care reform has been a hot topic around the nation over the past few years. During the health care debate, I spoke with countless people in West Texas and the Big Country about what the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, would mean for them. The message I received was overwhelmingly clear - their health care costs would go up once the health care bill passed. I agreed with them and voted against the $1 trillion dollar government takeover of health care.

Obamacare increases government spending by $1.2 trillion and increases taxes by $569 billion. It also includes unfunded mandates in the form of Medicaid expansions. For Texas alone, it could cost an additional $24.3 billion over 10 years to cover the costs.

Rather than lowering health care premiums for families, Obamacare makes the old inefficient system more complicated and costly. In fact, the Congressional Budget Office reports that this law will increase insurance premiums for families by $2,100 per year compared to passing no law at all. Additionally, 9 million Americans who currently have health insurance coverage from their employer could lose it. Maybe some of you have already begun to see some of these effects.

I believe improvements can be made to the current health care system that would help contain costs while maintaining access to quality health care. I also agree with my colleagues who say the rising cost of health care is a serious threat to the long-term competitiveness of our country. Unfortunately, the new health care law did not address that.

On June 28, 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of Obamacare, a decision I completely disagree with. I will continue to fight to fully repeal Obamacare.

The American people voiced their objections to this law loud and clear, but the Administration and Congress did not listen. I continue to advocate for common-sense reforms that increase competition and transparency in the industry to lower costs of health care.

As requirements of the new health care law continue to be implemented and affect your health insurance plan or your business, please do not hesitate to contact my office with questions you might have.