Issue Position: Health Care & Disabilities
Issue Position
Since Congressman Sessions' election to Congress in 1996, health care has been an issue of great importance to him. Americans have some of the greatest health care in the world, and one of Congressman Sessions' priorities is that all Americans have access to that quality care.
Currently, health care in this country costs over $2 trillion dollars a year, which is approximately 17% of the nation's GDP. U.S. health care spending is expected to increase at similar levels for the next decade reaching $4.3 trillion in 2017, or 20% of the GDP. Additionally, there are currently over 46 million people in America that are periodically uninsured throughout the year.
Today, chronic diseases--such as cardiovascular disease (primarily heart disease and stroke), cancer, and diabetes--are among the most prevalent, costly, and preventable of all health problems. Seven of every 10 Americans who die each year, or more than 1.7 million people, die of a chronic disease. The cost of treating these chronic diseases accounts for more than 75% of the nation's overall $2 trillion medical care costs.
Since taking office in January 2009, President Obama has tasked his Democrat leadership in the House of Representatives and in the Senate to ensure nationwide reform to our current health care system. Unfortunately, this reform is plagued with new mandates on individuals and businesses, increased taxes for all, reduced Medicare benefits for our nation's seniors and the largest government intrusion in the doctor-patient relationship ever seen before.
Some of the House Democrat Highlights on Health Reform:
*Government-Run Public Plan: This taxpayer-subsidized plan would "compete" in a Massachusetts-style "Exchange" with plans offered by private insurers deemed "qualified" by the federal government.
*Federal Health Board: A new public/private advisory committee would determine a one-size-fits-all benefits package and cost-sharing arrangements for every public, individual and employer plan offered in the US.
*$750 Billion of new taxes over next 10 years, with Individual and Employer coverage mandates:
oRequires all Americans to purchase "qualified" insurance (as defined by the government), with a new tax penalty of $250,000 and up to 5 years in prison for non-compliance.
oRequires businesses to "pay-or-play" by paying either for an employee's health insurance or pay a new 8% payroll tax to the federal government.
*4.7 -- 5.5 million jobs estimated to be lost as a result of new taxes on businesses, according to White House Economic Advisors.
*Provides for $450 Billion in Medicare Cuts
*Tort Reform Provisions Favors Trial Lawyers over Doctors and Patients: Language on page 1,431 specifically prevents any tort reform incentive payments to states that have or intend to implement caps on attorney fees or caps on non-economic damages (including Texas).
*Cost: $1.3 Trillion over 10 Years
According to the Congressional Budget Office, this legislation would add to the federal deficit and do nothing to bring cost down for Americans looking to purchase health insurance. The Lewin Group did a study on the Administration's campaign proposals on health reform and predicted 119 million people would be displaced from their private health insurance and put on the "public option" or government run plan.
Congressman Sessions stands with the American people for real reform, which provides access to affordable quality health care of their choice. The Democrat solution to health care is nothing but more borrowing, taxing, and spending. Congressman Sessions has a solution that would provide more choices at a lower cost while ensuring a future medical workforce needed to treat and cure our nation's health care problems.
Sessions Solutions:
*Creates Universal Access Programs for those with pre-existing conditions: Expands high-risk pools, to ensure everyone is eligible for insurance regardless of health status.
*Tort Reform: Models successful tort reform for the U.S. on Texas law that will save taxpayers $54 billion.
*Common Sense Insurance Reforms: Eliminates an insurance company's ability to drop individuals for getting sick, or from placing arbitrary caps on annual or lifetime spending.
*Creation of Small Business Health Plans: This would allow small businesses to join together to create larger pools to bring down health care costs, and increase choice and options.
*Rewards Innovation: This legislation provides incentive payments and more flexibility for States that come up with innovative, efficient and successful ways to cover their uninsured.
*Creates Portability: Allows individuals to purchase health insurance across state lines to provide ownership to move from job to job or state to state.
*Encourages Prevention and Wellness: Gives Employers flexibility for encouraging healthier behavior.
*Expands the Use of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs): Creates incentives for all individuals to participate in HSAs for future and long-term health care needs.
*Keeps Young Adults on Parents Coverage: up to age 25 for all children.
*Allows Individuals to Use Pre-Tax Dollars for All Health Expenditures: like business and unions do.
*Permanent solution to the Physician Reimbursement Formula SGR: to adequately reflect medical costs and services and ensure the future of our medical workforce.
Congressman Sessions has cosponsored and sponsored many legislative proposals that would tackle some of the health care issues this nation faces every day. We need to bring costs down and provide more options for all Americans to purchase health insurance.
Congressman Sessions works with his colleagues in Congress on behalf of Texans and all Americans to protect what works in our health care delivery system and fix what is broken. The United States is a leader in health care research, treatment, and innovation - remaining a leader is extremely important to Congressman Sessions. He will continue to make health care reform a priority of his in Congress.
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