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Good evening. I'm Dr. Charles Boustany, and I'm proud to serve the people of Louisiana's Seventh Congressional District. I'm also a heart surgeon with more than 20 years of experience, during which I saw first-hand the need for lowering health care costs.
Republicans are pleased that President Obama came to the Capitol tonight. We agree much needs to be done to lower the cost of health care for all Americans. On that goal, Republicans are ready – and we've been ready – to work with the President for common-sense reforms that our nation can afford.
Afford is an important word. Our country is facing many challenges. The cost of health care is rising. Federal spending is soaring. We're piling huge debt on our children. And families and small businesses are struggling through a jobless recovery, with more than 2.4 million private-sector jobs lost since February.
It's clear the American people want health care reform, but they want their elected leaders to get it right. Most Americans wanted to hear the President tell Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Reid and the rest of Congress that it's time to start over on a common-sense, bipartisan plan focused on lowering the cost of health care while improving quality. That's what I heard over the past several months in talking to thousands of my constituents.
Replacing your family's current health care with government-run health care is not the answer. In fact, it'll make health care much more expensive. That's not just my personal diagnosis as a doctor or a Republican; it's the conclusion of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office – the neutral scorekeeper that determines the cost of major bills.
I read the bill Democrats passed through committee in July. It creates 53 new government bureaucracies, adds hundreds of billions to our national debt, and raises taxes on job-creators by $600 billion. And, it cuts Medicare by $500 billion, while doing virtually nothing to make the program better for our seniors. The President had a chance tonight to take government-run health care off the table. Unfortunately, he didn't do it.
One, all individuals should have access to coverage, regardless of preexisting conditions.
Two, individuals, small businesses and other groups should be able to join together to get health insurance at lower prices, the same way large businesses and labor unions do.
Three, we can provide assistance to those who still cannot access a doctor.
And, four, insurers should be able to offer incentives for wellness care and prevention – something particularly important to me. I operated on too many people who could have avoided surgery if they'd simply made healthier choices earlier in life.
We do have ideas the President hasn't agreed with. We're grateful the President mentioned medical liability reform, and we hope he's serious. We need to establish tough liability reform standards, encourage speedy resolution of claims, and deter junk lawsuits that drive up the cost of care. Real reform must do this.
Let's also talk about letting families and businesses buy insurance across state lines. I and many other Republicans believe that that will provide real choice and competition to lower the cost of health insurance. Unfortunately, the President disagrees. You can read more about all these reforms at healthcare.gop.gov. These are common-sense reforms we can achieve right away – without destroying jobs, exploding the deficit, rationing care, or taking away the freedom American families cherish.
This Congress can pass meaningful reform soon to reduce some of the fear and anxiety families are feeling in these very difficult times. Working together in a bipartisan way, we can truly lower the cost of health care while improving quality for the American people.
I'm Dr. Charles Boustany. Thanks for listening.
Where did he discuss the republican plan?
One, all individuals should have access to coverage, regardless of preexisting conditions.
Two, individuals, small businesses and other groups should be able to join together to get health insurance at lower prices, the same way large businesses and labor unions do.
Three, we can provide assistance to those who still cannot access a doctor.
And, four, insurers should be able to offer incentives for wellness care and prevention something particularly important to me.
Where did he discuss the republican plan?
From above...
One, all individuals should have access to coverage, regardless of preexisting conditions.
Two, individuals, small businesses and other groups should be able to join together to get health insurance at lower prices, the same way large businesses and labor unions do.
Three, we can provide assistance to those who still cannot access a doctor.
And, four, insurers should be able to offer incentives for wellness care and prevention – something particularly important to me.
This is all he gave. And yet, the GOP claims Obama is being too vague? Pot, meet kettle.
Where did he discuss the republican plan?
From above...
One, all individuals should have access to coverage, regardless of preexisting conditions.
Two, individuals, small businesses and other groups should be able to join together to get health insurance at lower prices, the same way large businesses and labor unions do.
Three, we can provide assistance to those who still cannot access a doctor.
And, four, insurers should be able to offer incentives for wellness care and prevention – something particularly important to me.
This is all he gave. And yet, the GOP claims Obama is being too vague? Pot, meet kettle.
Three, we can provide assistance to those who still cannot access a doctor?
Who is "we"? The Government?
NO chance he meant the government. That would be socialism by their standards. Right?
Where did he discuss the republican plan?
" How does it feel ?you're plan is bad but we don't have one
Where did he discuss the republican plan?
One, all individuals should have access to coverage, regardless of preexisting conditions.
Two, individuals, small businesses and other groups should be able to join together to get health insurance at lower prices, the same way large businesses and labor unions do.
Three, we can provide assistance to those who still cannot access a doctor.
And, four, insurers should be able to offer incentives for wellness care and prevention something particularly important to me.
One, all individuals should have access to coverage, regardless of preexisting conditions.
Two, individuals, small businesses and other groups should be able to join together to get health insurance at lower prices, the same way large businesses and labor unions do.
Three, we can provide assistance to those who still cannot access a doctor.
And, four, insurers should be able to offer incentives for wellness care and prevention – something particularly important to me.
How about...Where did he discuss the republican plan?
Obama has never discussed the details in HR3200-& he has had months to do it. If you want the Republican plan look it up. It's called HR3400.
It involves all that was just stated: Tort reform--interstate competition--small business being able to group together to afford the same coverage as large corporations get--coverage of pre-exisitng conditions--& HELP for those that are dirt poor & can't cover THEMSELVES.
The best thing of all in this plan--the government doesn't take taxpayers dollars to run it themselves. Because we all know that the federal government couldn't run a lemonaid stand without bankrupting it--& that was basically stated in the rebuttal also.
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I thought he was going to tell us what the republicans wanted to do to reform healthcare? They have had all summer to tell us their alternate proposal. All he does is rehash Obama's plan then tells us he will vote against it?
One, all individuals should have access to coverage, regardless of preexisting conditions.
Two, individuals, small businesses and other groups should be able to join together to get health insurance at lower prices, the same way large businesses and labor unions do.
Three, we can provide assistance to those who still cannot access a doctor.
And, four, insurers should be able to offer incentives for wellness care and prevention something particularly important to me.
Isn't this the plan Obama just gave??
I thought he was going to tell us what the republicans wanted to do to reform healthcare? They have had all summer to tell us their alternate proposal. All he does is rehash Obama's plan then tells us he will vote against it?
One, all individuals should have access to coverage, regardless of preexisting conditions.
Two, individuals, small businesses and other groups should be able to join together to get health insurance at lower prices, the same way large businesses and labor unions do.
Three, we can provide assistance to those who still cannot access a doctor.
And, four, insurers should be able to offer incentives for wellness care and prevention something particularly important to me.
Isn't this the plan Obama just gave??
I thought he was going to tell us what the republicans wanted to do to reform healthcare? They have had all summer to tell us their alternate proposal. All he does is rehash Obama's plan then tells us he will vote against it?
The plan is so shitty that it rebuts itself. No need to waste words and make people forget what they just heard.
Isn't this the plan Obama just gave??
I thought he was going to tell us what the republicans wanted to do to reform healthcare? They have had all summer to tell us their alternate proposal. All he does is rehash Obama's plan then tells us he will vote against it?
The plan is so shitty that it rebuts itself. No need to waste words and make people forget what they just heard.
If the plan is so "shitty" why did he rehash what Obama had just said and claim it was his own?
This is the Republican plan?
One, all individuals should have access to coverage, regardless of preexisting conditions.
Two, individuals, small businesses and other groups should be able to join together to get health insurance at lower prices, the same way large businesses and labor unions do.
Three, we can provide assistance to those who still cannot access a doctor.
And, four, insurers should be able to offer incentives for wellness care and prevention – something particularly important to me.
1. They stole that one from Obama.
2. This sounds like a good idea. Funny that he likens it to unions.
3. Great plan...excellent detail. Only one question: what assistance? Will he and Trent Lott see patients during the Congressional lunch break?
4. Great idea. Too bad Obama's plan only covers the patient AFTER they've had complications.
This is the Republican plan?
One, all individuals should have access to coverage, regardless of preexisting conditions.
Two, individuals, small businesses and other groups should be able to join together to get health insurance at lower prices, the same way large businesses and labor unions do.
Three, we can provide assistance to those who still cannot access a doctor.
And, four, insurers should be able to offer incentives for wellness care and prevention something particularly important to me.
1. They stole that one from Obama.
2. This sounds like a good idea. Funny that he likens it to unions.
3. Great plan...excellent detail. Only one question: what assistance? Will he and Trent Lott see patients during the Congressional lunch break?
4. Great idea. Too bad Obama's plan only covers the patient AFTER they've had complications.
With all due respect XO, I have a different reaction, so I'll use your post to reflect off of:
1. This is (presumably) the primary justification for Obama's push for Obamacare, so this needs addressing first; and he did that.
2. He didn't liken it to unions; he made the point that unions have that ability; If they and businesses are able to organize then other "associations" should be able to as well: how about churches as a really good example, but there are many other examples of associations. Their empowerment would have to make the system more competitive.
3. The cost of financial assistance, a tax credit/voucher for instance, for all those who are always said to not be able to access a doctor for treatment would be far less than Obamacare. The good thing about tax credit/vouchers is that to get them, one only need file a 1040 tax form. That can be done no matter how little the income, and guess what? It forces those who would take income under the table or work for cash to enroll in the tax system (think IRS) to get their credit, then they become stake holders.
4. Insurance companies are in a better position to award incentives to policy holders for wellness and prevention than is government and far less INTRUSIVE. I doubt that an insurance company would ever, by law, be able to access a citizens checking/savings account as the Feds will be able to do.
All in all he said what needed to be said in the minimum number of words, which means that people who are really interested probably could understand and absorb it. He met his challenge, and a big part of that challenge was to channel the R plan to those who are most likely to show up at public meetings, and recently to have been concerned about Obamacare; the elderly, and their adult children concerned about their end of life situation.
All in all he said what needed to be said in the minimum number of words, which means that people who are really interested probably could understand and absorb it. He met his challenge, and a big part of that challenge was to channel the R plan to those who are most likely to show up at public meetings, and recently to have been concerned about Obamacare; the elderly, and their adult children concerned about their end of life situation.
You call THAT a PLAN? No wonder our invasion of Iraq has been such a disaster...
