Dr. Dan's Prescription for Lowering Health Care Costs

As a doctor who practiced medicine for the past thirty years, I have always believed in putting needs and concerns of my patients first.  I pledged an oath to ‘do no harm’ and to always work to provide the kind of care that improves, enhances and even saves the lives of my patients. That basic principle guided my medical practice in Northern Michigan for nearly three decades. 

But, President Obama’s new health care law makes it difficult for doctors to put their patients first.  By placing Washington in the driver’s seat of our health care, his new law is making health care more expensive, limiting access to care, stifling innovation, and eroding the doctor-patient relationship.  This new law will hurt America’s health care, not improve it. 

But this doesn’t have to happen to our health care system. 

Here’s my prescription on how to lower costs and improve health care for hard working families in Northern Michigan:

Buying Health Insurance Across State Lines

Let’s have health insurance be sold just like car insurance—across state lines.  Families and job providers would benefit from a truly competitive marketplace where insurance companies would lower their prices by competing to attract new policyholders.

Legislation I supported to do this:  “Empowering Patients First Act” (H.R 2300)

Making Health Insurance Portable

Your health coverage should stick with you, regardless of where you work or who pays for it.  If you change your job or lose your job, you should be able to take that policy with you, so your health care coverage would not be interrupted.

Legislation I supported to do this:  “Empowering Patients First Act” (H.R 2300)

Putting You in Charge of Your Health Care Spending

By expanding Health Savings Accounts (HSA), we can ensure Michigan families have more flexibility with their health care spending by providing the same tax benefit for individuals as employers currently enjoy. 

Legislation I supported to do this: “Health Freedom for Seniors Act” (H.R. 1552), “Empowering Patients First Act” (H.R 2300), “Restoring Access to Medication Act” (H.R. 2529)

Stopping Needless Lawsuits

Frivolous lawsuits against doctors happen all the time and by putting in place some substantive lawsuit reform we can lower health care costs for everyone.

Legislation I supported to do this:  “Empowering Patients First Act” (H.R 2300), “Good Samaritan Health Professionals Act” (H.R. 1773)

Protecting Young People and Those With Preexisting Conditions

It’s important that we ensure that high-risk patients and those with pre-existing conditions can get the coverage they need.  In addition, parents should continue to be able to be allowed to keep their kids on their health care coverage until they are twenty-six-years old. 

Legislation I supported to do this:  “Empowering Patients First Act” (H.R 2300)