Congressman Tom Rice

Representing the 7th District of South Carolina

Health Care

It’s been five years since President Obama’s misnamed “Affordable Care Act” was signed into law with the promise of reducing health care costs, increasing access, and improving care, all without “adding one dime to the deficit”. While we all agree on the importance of achieving those goals, we have yet to see any of these promises come to fruition as a result of this legislation. Further, the latest estimate from the Congressional Budget Office puts the price tag of this law at $1.33 trillion and predicts 30 million people will still be uninsured by 2023. The onerous number of new regulations and taxes imposed by this law are stifling business expansion and increasing the cost of health care. Clearly, this was not the solution to our problems.

Rather than a government takeover of the industry, we must open up the markets and allow for increased competition to bring down prices—this can be done by allowing insurance to be purchased across state lines. We need medical liability reform to reduce the billions of dollars’ worth of unnecessary testing. We should also ensure portability of plans so that individuals may keep their coverage as they move from one job to the next. The establishment of high risk pools will increase access for individuals with pre-existing conditions. These are some of the multiple reforms I will work on while serving the Seventh Congressional District of South Carolina in order to truly increase access, improve quality or care, and reduce health care costs.

More on Health Care

Apr 30, 2015 Press Release

Washington, D.C.— Congressman Tom Rice (SC-07) today joined his colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives in passing H.R. 2029, FY2016 Military Construction & Veterans Affairs Appropriations. 

Given the problems plaguing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), this legislation increases oversight measures and provides the agency with the funding needed to modernize VA health care facilities, reduce the disability claims backlog, fulfill veteran education benefits, improve employment training, and provide for homeless veterans.   

Mar 25, 2015 Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tom Rice (SC-07) released the following statement after the U.S.  House of Representatives passed H. Con. Res. 27, a budget plan for Fiscal Year 2016:

Feb 17, 2015 In The News

MARION, S.C. – U.S. Rep. Tom Rice, 7th Congressional District, paid a visit to constituents in Marion Monday afternoon for his “Coffee with Your Congressman” meetings in Marion and Johnsonville.

Nearly 100 people gathered at the Marion Opera House for the hour-long session that included a federal update from Rice.

Feb 16, 2015 In The News

Making a swing through his district, U.S. Rep. Tom Rice, 7th Congressional District, paid his first visit to Johnsonville. Rice had been in Dillon and Marion meeting with community leaders earlier in the day before his 3 p.m. stopover in the Shady Rest Restaurant for "Coffee with Your Congressman."

Feb 10, 2015 In The News

DARLINGTON, S.C. -- U. S. Rep. Tom Rice Jr. stopped by the Greater Darlington Chamber of Commerce Monday morning to visit with constituents from the Seventh Congressional District. He was there to hear what voters in his district had to say and to listen to their concerns about government.

Nearly 20 people showed up to ask questions during his second “Coffee with your Congressman” of the day. His first was in Bennettsville.

Feb 3, 2015 Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tom Rice (SC-07) today released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 596, which repeals the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010:

Jan 22, 2015 In The News

Many people swear we learn everything we need to know in kindergarten.  There is much truth to that. When we were children, our parents taught us helpful life lessons.  Many lessons were learned as a consequence of bad decisions and were accompanied with a punishment, but their truth is undeniable.  

Jan 8, 2015 Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tom Rice (SC-07) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 30, the Save American Workers Act of 2015:

Sep 11, 2014 Press Release

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Rice (SC-07) today released the following statement regarding the House passage of H.R.3522, Employee Health Care Protection Act of 2013: