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As a
medical doctor, I’ve seen first-hand how bureaucratic red tape
interferes with the doctor-patient relationship and drives costs
higher. The current system of third-party payers takes decision-making
away from doctors, leaving patients feeling rushed and worsening the quality
of care. Yet health insurance premiums and drug costs keep
rising. Clearly a new approach is needed. Congress needs to craft
innovative legislation that makes health care more affordable without
raising taxes or increasing the deficit. It also needs to repeal
bad laws that keep health care costs higher than necessary.
We should
remember that HMOs did not arise because of free-market demand, but rather
because of government mandates. The HMO Act of 1973 requires all but
the smallest employers to offer their employees HMO coverage, and the tax
code allows businesses- but not individuals- to deduct the cost of health
insurance premiums. The result is the illogical coupling of employment
and health insurance, which often leaves the unemployed without needed
catastrophic coverage.
While many in
Congress are happy to criticize HMOs today, the public never hears how the
present system was imposed upon the American people by federal law. As
usual, government intervention in the private market failed to deliver the
promised benefits and caused unintended consequences, but Congress never
blames itself for the problems created by bad laws. Instead, we are
told more government- in the form of “universal coverage”- is the
answer. But government already is involved in roughly two-thirds of all
health care spending, through Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs.
For decades, the
U.S. healthcare system was the envy of the entire world. Not
coincidentally, there was far less government involvement in medicine during
this time. America had the finest doctors and hospitals, patients
enjoyed high quality, affordable medical care, and thousands of private
charities provided health services for the poor. Doctors focused on treating
patients, without the red tape and threat of lawsuits that plague the
profession today. Most Americans paid cash for basic services, and had
insurance only for major illnesses and accidents. This meant both doctors and
patients had an incentive to keep costs down, as the patient was directly
responsible for payment, rather than an HMO or government program.
The lesson is
clear: when government and other third parties get involved, health care
costs spiral. The answer is not a system of outright socialized
medicine, but rather a system that encourages everyone- doctors, hospitals,
patients, and drug companies- to keep costs down. As long as
“somebody else” is paying the bill, the bill will be too high.
HR
3075
provides truly comprehensive health care reform by allowing families to claim
a tax credit for the rising cost of health insurance premiums. With
many families now spending close to $1000 or even more for their monthly
premiums, they need real tax relief-- including a dollar-for-dollar credit
for every cent they spend on health care premiums-- to make medical care more
affordable.
HR
3076
is specifically designed to address the medical malpractice crisis that
threatens to drive thousands of American doctors- especially obstetricians-
out of business. The bill provides a dollar-for-dollar tax credit that
permits consumers to purchase "negative outcomes" insurance prior
to undergoing surgery or other serious medical treatments. Negative
outcomes insurance is a novel approach that guarantees those harmed receive
fair compensation, while reducing the burden of costly malpractice litigation
on the health care system. Patients receive this insurance payout
without having to endure lengthy lawsuits, and without having to give away a
large portion of their award to a trial lawyer. This also drastically
reduces the costs imposed on physicians and hospitals by malpractice
litigation. Under HR 3076, individuals can purchase negative outcomes
insurance at essentially no cost.
HR 3077 makes it more affordable for parents to provide health care
for their children. It creates a $500 per child tax credit for medical
expenses and prescription drugs that are not reimbursed by insurance.
It also creates a $3,000 tax credit for dependent children with terminal
illnesses, cancer, or disabilities. Parents who are struggling to pay
for their children's medical care, especially when those children have
serious health problems or special needs, need every extra dollar.
HR 3078 is commonsense, compassionate legislation for those suffering
from cancer or other terminal illnesses. The sad reality is that many
patients battling serious illnesses will never collect Social Security
benefits-- yet they continue to pay into the Social Security system.
When facing a medical crisis, those patients need every extra dollar to pay
for medical care, travel, and family matters. HR 3078 waives the
employee portion of Social Security payroll taxes (or self-employment taxes)
for individuals with documented serious illnesses or cancer. It also
suspends Social Security taxes for primary caregivers with a sick spouse or
child. There is no justification or excuse for collecting Social
Security taxes from sick individuals who literally are fighting for their
lives.
Ron Paul
www.house.gov/paul
All
other articles by Ron Paul
Congressman
Ron Paul of Texas enjoys a national reputation as the premier advocate for
liberty in politics today. Dr. Paul is the leading spokesman in Washington
for limited constitutional government, low taxes, free markets, and a return
to sound monetary policies based on commodity-backed currency. For more
information click on the Project Freedom website.
Published
with the authorization of Dr. Paul.
Copyright
Dr. Ron Paul
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