We cannot reform our health care system on the backs of our nation's seniors. Older Americans are right to be alarmed by the proposed government take-over of health care. The Democratic health care reform bill being considered in the House pays for expanded health care coverage with so-called "savings" in Medicare. These savings amount to cuts to hospitals, physicians and home health agencies that provide essential Medicare services.

One of my biggest fears with government-run health care is that we will see more cuts to Medicare at a time when doctor reimbursements are already being cut. Seniors in East Tennessee tell me that some physicians are already refusing to see new Medicare patients. This plan could further reduce access to doctors for our seniors.  The proposal also cuts $172 billion from Medicare Advantage, causing millions who are already enrolled in these programs to lose their current coverage. What the plan fails to address is the $37 billion funding shortfall in Medicare over the next 75 years. 
 
Instead of turning health care over to the government, the real goal should be to bring down the cost of health care for all Americans, so that those who have it can keep it and those who don't, can afford it.  To build momentum for the right kind of change, I cosponsored the Empowering Patients First Act, H.R. 3400.  This bill is built around four important principles:

• Access to coverage for all Americans - increases fairness in the tax code by extending a tax deduction for health care premiums to those who do not have employer-provided health care but purchase health insurance on their own; provides assistance to low-income individuals and families through a tax credit of up to $2,000 for individuals and $5,000 for families to purchase health insurance; and creates incentives for health insurance companies and states to insure individuals with high-cost medical problems so individuals with "pre-existing conditions" can purchase affordable insurance
• Coverage is truly owned by patients - increases choice and competition by allowing individuals to purchase health insurance through a membership organization, such as a church or alumni association, or purchase plans across state lines and improves "portability" when people change jobs
• Improve the health care delivery system - ensures that doctors determine what will and will not be covered under health insurance plans instead of a committee of bureaucrats;  allows employers and health insurance plans to offer discounts for healthy lifestyles
• Rein in out-of-control costs - reforms our legal system so that doctors will not be forced to run unnecessary tests in the name of "defensive medicine," or pay skyrocketing costs for medical liability insurance - accounting for billions of dollars spent annually without one dime going towards patient care - and places reasonable limits on the amount of money that can be awarded for non-economic damages

As health care reform moves forward, I will continue to advocate for the millions of our nation's seniors who rely on quality, affordable health care.