A SECOND NEW APPROACH TO HEALTH REFORM

Subject: txt hcare -
The Empowering Patients First Act, H.R. 3400, sponsored by Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), a physician and chairman of the House Republican Study Committee, would insure more people and cut costs:

• It would insure more people by letting individuals take tax deductions for health insurance premiums that they pay, just as employers do.
• Workers with employer-paid insurance could retain it.
• Low-income individuals would be given refundable tax credits in advance to help them pay premiums.
• States would be required to set up subsidized risk pools for those with chronic conditions who might otherwise be uninsurable.

The most innovative aspect of the Price bill:

• It allows -- but does not require -- employers to offer a monetary sum to workers so that they can purchase whatever insurance plan they choose in the open market, similar to defined contribution pension plans.
• Employers would still enjoy the same tax benefit for providing coverage, tax-free to the employee, but workers would be able to choose from an entire range of options, policies that they could carry with them when they change jobs.
• Now employees are generally limited to one plan, sponsored by their employer, and lose that coverage when they change jobs.

The contrast with the Democrats' health care plan could not be starker. Rather than turn the insurance industry into a federally-controlled public utility, the Republican plans would allow all Americans, including recipients of Medicare, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, to shop around and purchase health insurance on the open market.

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[Again, more FLASHBACKS on this 'new' plan...


Monday, October 5, 2009

ANOTHER SERIOUS CONSERVATIVE HEALTH PLAN

For months President Obama has suggested that on health reform the choice is between the Democrats plans before Congress or the status quo. Congressional conservatives, like Rep. Price, have offered serious legislative alternatives that include practical health care solutions, only to have them all closed out of consideration by the majority party.

Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), chairman of the Republican Study Committee, has joined a host of other Republicans in the House of Representatives by crafting another serious conservative alternative to the health plans that the President and the Democratic leadership are trying to push through Congress...

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Thursday, July 30, 2009

GOP BILL PROMOTES CITIZEN CONTROL

"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," ... "We make certain we pay for our bill by making this a priority."




"SUPPORT 'EMPOWERING PATIENTS FIRST ACT"

House-Pelosi: http://speaker.house.gov/contact/
YOUR Congressman: https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml

or: Speed Message them with your personal distribution list...
and as always, pass it on... [select to forward this Brief by email].

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