Tiahrt: Current Health Care System Needs Serious Scrutiny and Overhaul

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Todd Tiahrt (R-Goddard) today issued the following statement in recognition of Cover the Uninsured Week April 27- May 3. Tiahrt is co-sponsoring three pro-consumer bills aimed at making high-quality health care affordable and accessible to all Americans.

"Cover the Uninsured Week is an initiative that draws attention to the 47 million Americans who have no health insurance," said Tiahrt. "That is 47 million too many people who are uninsured.

"Our current health care system is in need of serious scrutiny and overhaul. Medical technology and demographics have changed so much over the past 40 years, and yet our health care delivery system does not reflect those changes.

"A majority of uninsured Americans indicate they do not have health insurance because it is too expensive. That is why I am a co-sponsor of the Affordable Health Care Expansion Act (H.R. 5784). This legislation will make pre-payable, refundable tax credits available to all Americans regardless of their employer or employment status. By providing tax credits for health insurance, we increase healthcare accessibility by effectively lowering the cost of coverage.

"The Making Health Care More Affordable Act, of which I am also a co-sponsor, is another pro-consumer healthcare bill that combines six core reforms. Each of these reforms will provide more choices and freedoms for the consumer through tax credits, association health plans, interstate insurance purchasing power, health savings accounts, reduction of frivolous lawsuit abuse, and incentives for new health information technology.

"It is also important to ensure people with disabilities, both old and young, have healthcare options that best meet their needs. That is why I am pleased to be a co-sponsor of the Community Choice Act (H.R. 1621). This bill will empower individuals that are eligible for assisted living services with the choice of deciding where and how institutional services are provided. Instead of being locked into a one-size-fits-all system, H.R. 1621 provides more assisted living options for those who need them.

"We need practical solutions like these three bills offer to help more families live full, healthy and productive lives.

"We have the best quality health care in the world, and we should find workable, bipartisan solutions to make sure all Americans have access to that system. Working together on a bipartisan basis is important if we are going to help create affordable and stable health care for all Americans."

April 30, 2008
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