As a physician, I understand the importance of affordable access to healthcare. While I believe our healthcare system cannot remain at the status quo, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) that passed in 2010 will not make our healthcare system better and will, in fact, increase costs and lead to rationing of care. Because of this legislation, we have already seen employers reduce employee hours from full time to part time to avoid providing insurance. The dangerous Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) will soon be formed and will make drastic cuts to Medicare, which will undoubtedly result in cuts to patient care and be detrimental to seniors’ access to the healthcare system. As a part of the Doctors Caucus, we are also taking a meaningful look at tort reform. I think we should pursue expanded Health Savings Account eligibility, expanded choices of providers, and greater transparency on insurance price disclosure. And as a member of the Education and Workforce Committee, I will work on expanding employee pooling to create larger, more competitive buying groups to reduce the costs of insurance and care to the consumer.

We must focus on patient centered, market based solutions that lower costs; by focusing on costs, we will make healthcare more accessible and affordable to all. We need to have a health care system that allows the purchase of insurance across state lines, and addresses tort reform.