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Compared with other developed countries, the United States spends both more per capita and a greater share of its national income on health care. Health spending in the United States is projected to be nearly $2.2 trillion in 2006, an estimated $7,110 per capita, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This is a problem we must address. During the 109th Congress, we have passed numerous pieces of legislation to both improve the quality and access of healthcare services and the rising costs associated with them. Here are a few examples:
Last year, the House passed the Health Act of 2005 (H.R. 5) to help reduce frivolous lawsuits and preserve patient access to health care. Physicians, hospitals and other health care providers have had to limit their practices because of astronomical medical malpractice insurance rates. Without federal legislation, some providers will have to shut their doors, and patients will find it increasingly difficult to obtain needed health care. H.R. 5 safeguards patients’ access to care and will ensure that more doctors stay in business and are not driven from practicing medicine because of skyrocketing medical malpractice costs. The Health Act failed to pass in the Senate.
Before Congress adjourned, we passed the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006. This legislation makes some important changes to help improve Medicare. It prevents physician payment cuts in 2007 by freezing payment rates for physician services. H.R. 6408 also provides a one-year extension of the process to allow patients to apply for additional physical, occupational and speech language therapy services if the patient's treatment exceeds the annual cap. I have received many phone calls and letter from Oklahomans who were very concerned about these two provisions and the fact that they were set to expire in January. I am pleased that we were able to address this issue before time ran out. This legislation awaits the President's signature.
In 2003, the first year I was in Congress, Congress passed legislation to modernize the nation's public health system through the creation of the Medicare prescription drug program. This year, the legislation was fully implemented and the more than 38 million senior across the country now have access to prescription drug coverage. This bill moved Medicare into the 21st Century by switching the focus to reactive disease treatment to proactive disease prevention. America's seniors are saving an average of $1,100 a year on their medications thanks to this benefit.
During the past two years the House has also passed legislation to allow small businesses to join together through associated health plans in order to offer affordable insurance at a lower cost. We have worked to implement Health Savings Accounts to make health insurance more affordable and accessible, and give Americans an incentive to start planning ahead for their future medical costs. Healthcare is one of the most important domestic issues facing our country and I will continue to make sure we do everything possible so that families have access to the care they need. |
