Health Care

I am committed to preserving and protecting our nation’s healthcare system. I understand the challenges many Pennsylvanians – and all Americans – face when it comes to receiving healthcare benefits for themselves and their families.

According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Medicare will go bankrupt by 2024 if we fail to act. I believe that we must balance the needs of today's seniors and near-seniors while also preserving Medicare for future generations. Additionally, we need more stringent safeguards and increased investigation into Medicare fraud and abuse, so there is sufficient funding for those who truly need it.

Before I arrived in Congress, President Obama's healthcare law cut more than $700 billion from Medicare, cutting seniors' benefits, and increasing seniors' Medicare premiums.

Even though the United States Supreme Court said the president’s healthcare law is a constitutional law, that doesn’t mean it is a good law.  The decision was a victory for big government and a defeat for individual freedom.  Since being sworn in, I have voted to protect and strengthen seniors' benefits by repealing the president's healthcare law over thirty times.

I am deeply concerned that this overreach of federal authority will dramatically impact the healthcare choices my constituents will be able to make on their own. Seniors will have their healthcare decisions made by a panel of 15 unelected bureaucrats who will determine whether or not a doctor who accepts Medicare gets paid to perform procedures or exams.

I will continue to work with my colleagues on commonsense reforms to replace this unconstitutional law. The problem with our healthcare system is not access, it is affordability. I support measures to lower the price of healthcare coverage, including allowing consumers to shop for healthcare plans across state lines. Competition will drive down the price, giving more consumers access to cheaper, yet effective plans.

I also support preserving seniors' access to medical services provided by hospitals in our community and preserving home and community based-care for our senior citizens.

More on Health Care

Oct 19, 2016 Press Release

WASHINGTON – Congressman Lou Barletta (PA-11) today urged residents of Pennsylvania’s 11th District to dispose of unwanted, unused, or expired prescription drugs by participating in National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on Saturday, October 22, 2016.  Sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the program is designed to remove surplus medication from circulation and prevent its abuse.  In previous years, the program has resulted in nearly 500 tons of prescription drugs being collected nationally.

Aug 5, 2016 Press Release

HARRISBURG – Congressman Lou Barletta (PA-11) today announced that he will be co-hosting a forum with state Representative Ron Marsico (105th District) to discuss the growing opioid epidemic facing Pennsylvania communities and efforts underway to combat the problem.  Barletta and Marsico will welcome members of the public to the Rose Lehrman Arts Center at Harrisburg Area Community College on Thursday, August 18, 2016 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  The forum, moderated by WHP-AM morning show host R.J.

Jul 13, 2016 Press Release

WASHINGTON – Congressman Lou Barletta (PA-11) today voted in favor of legislation that prevents federal agencies, or any state or local government receiving federal funds, from discriminating against individuals or institutions objecting to participating in abortions.  The protections, originally created by the “Weldon Amendment” in 2004, until recently have been enforced by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  The need for codification arose when the Obama Administration declined to enforce the conscience protections in some cases, most notably in California

Jul 8, 2016 Press Release

WASHINGTON – Congressman Lou Barletta (PA-11) today voted in favor of sweeping legislation combating the growing opioid epidemic, a package which contains his own bill that specifically protects addicted newborns and their caregivers.  Barletta was a member of the conference committee that worked out the differences between House and Senate versions.  The bill, titled the Conference Report to Accompany S.

Jul 6, 2016 Press Release

WASHINGTON – Congressman Lou Barletta (PA-11) today voted in favor of sweeping legislation to reform the mental health system, addressing the needs of more than 10 million Americans facing serious mental illness and the countless others who go without diagnosis or treatment.  The Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act (H.R. 2646), authored by Rep.

Jun 21, 2016 Press Release

WASHINGTON – Congressman Lou Barletta (PA-11) today backed the passage of legislation he co-sponsored that will restore the ability of small businesses to reimburse their employees for the costs of health insurance premiums or other medical expenses.  This financial assistance, previously provided under Health Reimbursement Agreements (HRAs), was prohibited by the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare.  The Small Business Healthcare Relief Act, H.R.

May 17, 2016 Press Release

WASHINGTON – Congressman Lou Barletta (PA-11) has been named a conferee on bipartisan legislation aimed at addressing the opiate addiction epidemic, as House and Senate negotiators will hammer out differences between their competing versions of the bill.  Barletta was the lead sponsor of H.R. 4843, Infant Plan of Safe Care Improvement Act, which requires that states which receive federal funds for child protective services comply with federal law and enact certain guidelines for the welfare of children exposed to opioids.  H.R.

May 11, 2016 Press Release

Click here or on image for video of Rep. Barletta arguing in favor

of his bill to protect babies born addicted to opiates.

May 9, 2016 Opinion Editorial

This coming September, Brayden Cummings would be celebrating his second birthday in Lehighton, Pennsylvania.  Sadly, he didn’t live long enough to see that young age, because he died of asphyxiation when he was only six weeks old.  Police say his mother, who was addicted to heroin and high on other drugs at the time, fell asleep on top of the boy and smothered him to death.  If there had been better policies in place to protect babies born addicted to opiates – and better support for their caregivers – Brayden Cummings might still be alive today.

Apr 28, 2016 Press Release

Click here or on image for video of Rep. Barletta speaking in support of his bill to protect babies who are born addicted to opioids.