Pennsylvania Health Care Reform
The Pennsylvania House Democrats' number one priority of this session,
House Bill 1 - would spend millions and increase your taxes to expand the state's AdultBasic insurance program, despite the fact that 92 percent of state residents are already covered by some type of health insurance plan.
Top 10 Flaws of House Bill 1:
1.
Puts government in charge of health care decisions, not the patients and their doctors.
2.
Will inevitably lead to rationing of health care services. More patients in the government-run health care delivery system plus a finite number of health care professionals equals long wait times.
3.
Puts a new tax on existing health care insurance policies, thereby encouraging employers to drop private coverage and force more people on government-run plans.
4.
Does nothing to address the core issue of rising health care reform, which is rising costs.
5.
Addresses less than one-third of the current AdultBasic waiting list.
6.
Adds high-ticket services that will skyrocket the cost to taxpayers.
7.
Expands the Medicaid program.
8.
Hearings were not held and the legislation was rammed through the committee and the House Floor.
9.
Raises costs and taxes when our economy is already struggling. There is no long-term price tag.
10.
Three major sources of funding defined in the bill may not be there in the future.
National Health Care Reform
According to national polls, over half of Americans do not want the U.S. Senate and Congress to pass President Obama’s current health care proposal which costs over a trillion dollars and includes a massive government takeover of our health system.
Obamacare: Who Will be Hurt?
RSC Policy Brief: Administration Own Actuary Finds that ObamaCare Will Increase the Cost of Health Care
President Obama asked for solutions. Republicans stepped up to the plate and our Health Care Task Force sent a
letter outlining our proposals and our willingness to work with their Administration. Yet, our letter was ignored.
Pennsylvania joined with 39 other states to introduce the
Health Care Freedom Act. Two states have passed this legislation.
The Health Care Freedom Act:
- ensures health care decisions stay in your hands, not government.
- reaffirms your 10th Amendment rights by allowing Pennsylvanians to reject a government health care plan if one is passed at the national level.
- protects your right to pay directly for medical services; and prohibits you and your family from being penalized for not purchasing bureaucrat-approved health insurance.
A government requirement to purchase health insurance is
ineffective, bureaucratic, costly and arguably an unconstitutional infringement upon states’ rights. The Health Care Freedom Act would strike at the heart of individual and employer mandates that do not work.
Attorney General, Tom Corbett, has joined with at least 18 other states in filing a suit to challenge the constitutionality of the federal health care bill.
Read the letter of support from members of the House GOP here.
We are at a crossroad regarding the future of our health care. Republicans believe that health care decisions should stay in your hands, not government. We are the last line of defense against ObamaCare and a government takeover of your health care. The House Republican Caucus will continue to fight to protect your health care freedoms and choices and stop this massive government intrusion.