E-Newsletter

President’s Health Care Plan – Two Years Later

Two years ago last week, the President signed his controversial health care bill into law.  This week, ironically, the Supreme Court will hear roughly six hours of oral arguments to determine if several provisions of the law are constitutional.

To be clear, the health care system in our country does need reform, but that reform should not result in what I believe will be a government takeover.  One of my first votes in Congress was to fully repeal this health care plan, commonly known as ObamaCare.  Forcing individuals to purchase health insurance is a direct violation of our nation’s constitutional principles.  Repealing this law and replacing it with patient-centered reforms will provide the American people with the flexibility they need to obtain the best quality of care for themselves and their families.  I hope that the Court will agree with my analysis.   

The schedule for the Supreme Court’s arguments on the President’s Health Care Law:

Monday, March 26   
10-11:30 a.m.: Anti-Injunction Act
Audio will be available by Monday at 2 p.m.  

Tuesday, March 27
10 a.m.-noon: Individual mandate
Audio will be available by Tuesday at 2 p.m.

Wednesday, March 28
10-11:30 a.m.: Severability
1-2 p.m.: Medicaid
Audio will be available by Wednesday at 4 p.m.

To listen to the audio online, click here:  http://bit.ly/btYEmC

Medicare – What the GOP Budget Really Says

Abraham Lincoln once said, “I’m a firm believer in the people.  If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crises.  The great point is to bring them the real facts.”  In light of all the misinformation that surrounded last year’s GOP budget, I thought it would be helpful to provide folks, especially seniors, a few facts about this year’s GOP budget.  

• Current seniors and those 55 and older will see no change to their benefits
• For those 54 and under, any/all changes are voluntary
• Anyone 54 and under will be given a choice:
  • Participate in traditional Medicare

OR

• Receive monthly premium assistance for a qualified, guaranteed health care plan

Unfortunately, the status quo is not an option.  ObamaCare (PPACA) cut $500 billion out of the already struggling Medicare program.  ObamaCare created the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), which has the authority to deny payment of care, and perhaps limit treatment options for seniors.  And, ObamaCare does nothing to address the growing problem seniors face with respect to finding a doctor.  Several medical groups are reporting that about one-in-three primary care physicians are limiting the number of Medicare patients they see.  Many doctors cite inadequate reimbursements as an explanation for this statistic, but we certainly can’t blame doctors if they are losing money when providing care.  Medicare is a lifeline for many seniors, and the bottom line is that the status quo will not work.

We must strengthen and preserve health care, but clearly ObamaCare is not the answer.  Health care decisions are some of the most personal decisions that people make. What the President did with his health care bill is put the federal government, or worse – a board of 15 unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats (IPAB) – in between patients and their doctors.  When it comes to health care, we need choices—not unconstitutional mandates.  Further reading:  http://budget.house.gov/fy2013Prosperity/

This Week in History

March 27, 1775 –
Thomas Jefferson, a Virginia delegate, is elected to the second Continental Congress. Jefferson quickly established himself in the Continental Congress with the publication of his paper entitled A Summary View of the Rights of British America. Throughout the next year, Jefferson published several more papers, most notably Drafts and Notes on the Virginia Constitution.

In June 1776, at just 33 years old, Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence.  The document was formally adopted by Congress on July 4, 1776.  Jefferson was elected to three successive terms as Virginia's governor from 1779 to 1781, served as Minister to France from 1784 to 1789 and the first U.S. Secretary of State under President George Washington from 1790 to 1793.  He served as Vice President under President John Adams from 1797 to 1801.  He was elected the third President of the United States in 1801 and served until 1809.  After his presidency ended, Jefferson retired from public life to his home, Monticello.  Jefferson died on July 4, 1826--50 years to the day after the signing of The Declaration of Independence.  He was 83 years old.  Further reading:  http://bit.ly/bBLtiy

As always, if you have questions, concerns, or comments, feel free to contact my offices.  You can call my Abingdon office at 276-525-1405 or my Christiansburg office at 540-381-5671.  To reach my office via email, please visit my website at www.morgangriffith.house.gov.