I believe health care should be accessible and affordable for all Americans. During my tenure in the House of Representatives, I have supported initiatives aimed at bringing health care costs under control. My efforts have focused on three main areas: access, affordability and accountability.
Access
Medical liability costs and other increasing expenses are causing many doctors to leave the health profession, thus limiting consumer access to basic medical services. Between 2000 and 2003, the number of medical liability claims jumped 46 percent in Illinois to more than 3,500 claims. Sensible medical liability reform is needed to ensure continued access to basic health care services. I am supportive of legislation that will address this issue.
Affordability
There are an estimated 47 million people without health insurance in this country. The majority of the uninsured (over 60%) work at or own small businesses and either can’t afford the cost of providing coverage or choose not to accept the significant regulatory burden of offering health care coverage. If we want to reduce the number of uninsured in this country, helping small businesses provide health care coverage to employees must be a priority. I am supportive of efforts to create national Association Health Plans (AHPs), allowing small businesses to band together and purchase health insurance through national associations at group rates. Through the use of AHPs, groups such as the National Federation of Independent Business, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Restaurant Association could offer group health insurance to their member companies, allowing small businesses to enjoy the same economies of scale as large corporations and offer affordable health insurance to their employees.
Accountability
The government must be held accountable to fulfill its promises under Medicare. Foremost in this effort is ensuring adequate funding for Medicare reimbursements to doctors so that our nation's senior and disabled citizens continue to have access to medial care. Under Medicare's current reimbursement formula, physicians choosing to treat Medicare patients lose money. Current reimbursements do not even cover physician's out of pocket expenses, and Medicare Trustees have projected that Medicare payments to physicians, nurse practitioners, and other health professionals will be cut by about 26% from 2006 through 2011. Unless Congress reforms the current Medicare reimbursement formula, doctors who agree to see Medicare patients will no longer be able to stay in business. I am supportive of legislation that will repeal and replace the reimbursement formula with a formula that more accurately reflects doctor’s expenses.
