Rep. Petri on health care; town meetings this week

SOURCE: Foxpolitics.net
Rep. Petri on health care; town meetings this week

Concerning Health Care Reform Let me be clear about this: We absolutely, positively need health care reform. But, we need it done right. Health care accounts for 18 percent of our economy. If reform is botched, both our lives and our livelihoods will be put at risk.

The vast majority of Americans have some kind of health insurance that they are generally satisfied with, but what they really worry about is rising costs. Health care inflation has outpaced general inflation by approximately 2.5 percent per year. Reforms which bring consumers more information and control over the cost and quality of health care would facilitate a more efficient delivery system.

I believe that we need to institute reforms which reward high-quality care and successful outcomes. Currently, doctors are encouraged to order extra tests because insurance pays them "per procedure," and because they are at high risk of being sued if they miss something they might have caught if they had pulled out all the stops regardless of the cost or the small likelihood of discovering a problem. These incentives should be rebalanced.

Other changes in tax, subsidy and regulatory policies can slow health care inflation while expanding coverage to those who need it at a price they can afford.

One approach which should get more attention is Health Savings Accounts. With HSAs, people deposit money in special tax-free accounts which they can tap for day-to-day health care expenses. Unlike regular insurance coverage, HSAs make people aware of the cost of services. Those who use HSAs are required to carry low-premium high-deductible catastrophic insurance which kicks in to pay for major illnesses.

One thing we should not do, however, is to rush ahead with the legislative proposals being touted by President Obama and the congressional leadership.

President Obama rightly argues that we need to restrain rising health care costs, but the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has been unable to find truly significant provisions in the House leadership's plan to do this. Instead, the CBO has stated that the plan would result in over $1 trillion in new spending over 10 years which would "probably generate substantial increases in federal budget deficits."

The spending would partially be offset by cuts in Medicare and by $800 billion in new taxes, including hikes on small business - the engine of job creation in this country. According to economic modeling by the President's chief economic advisor, the business tax hikes alone could destroy up to 4.7 million jobs.

The President promises that if you like your current coverage, you will be able to keep it. But what he doesn't say is that the economics of his approach would encourage businesses to drop their coverage and instead move their employees over to the proposed government plan which the President insists on including. Analysts differ on how many people would lose their current coverage, but the correct figure is likely in the tens of millions.

Rather than simplifying health care administration, the House leadership's proposal would create 53 new boards, bureaucracies, commissions or programs.

The fact is, health care reform is complicated. There are many different values and approaches which must be carefully balanced. And, once again, health care accounts for 18 percent of our economy, profoundly affecting our lives and our livelihoods. This is why we should slow down and think before we act.

Town Meetings
My latest round of Town Meetings is already under way. This is an opportunity for you to voice your opinion on federal issues in a group setting. Here is a list of the remaining meetings:

MONDAY, AUGUST 10
9:30 - 10:30 a.m., GREEN LAKE, Caestecker Public Library, 518 Hill St., Conference Room
2:30 - 3:30 p.m., HORICON, City Hall, 404 East Lake St., Activity Room A

THURSDAY, AUGUST 13
9:00 - 10:00 a.m., OAKFIELD, Community Center, 130 North Main St.
3:30 - 4:30 p.m., WATERTOWN, Municipal Building, 106 Jones St., City Council Chambers

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14
10:00 - 11:00 a.m., ADAMS, Municipal Building, 101 North Main Street, Council Chambers
1:00 - 2:00 p.m., WILD ROSE, Community Center, 500 Division St.
3:00 - 4:00 p.m., MONTELLO, Marquette County Courthouse, 77 West Park St., Public Safety Training Room