New GOP Health Bill Promotes on Tax Incentives

[sabra]

Source: CBS News

Members of the Republican Study Committee are putting forward their own piece of legislation for health care reform, a summary of which was provided exclusively to CBSNews.com's Washington Unplugged.

While Democrats are focusing on creating something like a government-sponsored health insurance plan and regulating the health insurance market, the Republican "Empowering Patients First Act," which Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) will introduce tomorrow, instead promotes the individual insurance market as well as employer-based markets. Instead of focusing on regulating private insurers, the plan would in fact give them more freedom to work across state lines. Republicans say the plan will be paid for by reforms of defensive medicine, creating a more efficient health care system, and overall reductions in non-defense government spending.

"Liability reform has to be one or the hallmarks of a bill," Price told CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson today on Washington Unplugged. "We make certain we pay for our bill by making this a priority."

According to the summary, the bill aims to make health care accessible to all Americans by creating tax incentives for consumers to purchase insurance on the individual market, encouraging states to assist consumers with pre-existing conditions, and promoting the employer-based insurance system that is popular with many Americans.

"It's imperative each and every American have the access to health coverage that they select," Price said. "The way you do that is through the tax code to make it financially feasible."

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/07/29/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5195904.shtml

[RandySF]

1. Let me guess

They would give us $1,000 a year to buy a $900/month plan?

[endarkenment]

4. yup.

And paid for with cuts in medicare medicaid social security education va health care etc.

[Laelth]

2. What a joke!

This plan takes money away from the government (tax incentives) and gives it to insurance companies, who them get tort reform too (giving more money to the insurance companies) while taking it away from individuals who are injured by medical malpractice, thereby making their injuries the problem of "We the People" (i.e. a bigger drain on government resources).

Do Republicans have no shame?

:shrug:

:dem:

-Laelth

[BlueIdaho]

3. Not this shit again...

1. How do people living in poverty use a tax write-off to purchase health care?
2. Which state insurance commissioner do I take a grievance to - my state or the state the insurer is based in?
3. Exactly which non-defense spending programs will be cut?
4. Since less than 1% of total health care costs come from malpractice lawsuits - how does taking away the right to sue save money?
4. How does handing more control to insurance companies fix anything?

This legislation should be called "Empowering Insurance Companies First."

edit - typo.

[orwell]

5. Translation...

Liability Reform = Inconsequential cost savings and the predictable meaningless lawyer attack to stoke the Con base.

Insurance Across State Lines = Elimination of State Oversight of Health Insurance Companies. An invitation to abuse.

Tax Incentive = Useless if you don't have a job or you are a low income worker who can't afford health care now.

Attack the Lawyers
Bail out the Insurance Companies
Screw the Poor

All in all, it sounds like a solid Republicon Plan!

[merwin]

6. How does "liability reform" pay for a bill when they don't want a public option?

It's not like the patients are suing the government.

Basically, they're wanting to take power away from the individuals and reduce the options patients have. Right on par with the Republican Newspeak. "Empowering Patients First Act" translates roughly to "Screw the Middle Class and Empower the Wealthy First Act".

[GodlyDemocrat]

7. Tax incentives do nothing to fix the problem of the unhealthy being economically unviable to insure

n/t

[ramapo]

8. My useless congressman loves the HSA

Thinks that's the solution. What BS. Benefits the higher income taxpayer more and you have to have the money to put in to begin with. What BS indeed