The Obama Experiment

The Principles

Republicans Want Reform, But Not Through Risky And Costly Experimentation With Americans’ Tax Dollars And Health Care. “Candidate Obama promised change. President Obama is conducting an experiment. He’s conducting a dangerous experiment with our health care. He’s conducting a reckless experiment with our economy … Let me be clear—Republicans support health care reform that addresses the biggest problem in our system—runaway costs. We don’t need to spend more on health care—we already spend far more than the rest of the industrialized world.” (RNC Chairman Michael Steele, Remarks On President Obama’s Grand Health Care Experiment, Washington, DC, 7/20/09)

Republicans Want Health Care System Based Around Consumers. “Consumers should be financially invested in better health decisions through health-savings accounts, lower premiums and reduced cost sharing. If they seek care in cost-effective settings, comply with medical regimens, preventative care, and lifestyles that reduce the likelihood of chronic disease, they should share in the savings.” (Gov. Bobby Jindal, Op-Ed, “How To Make Health-Care Reform Bipartisan,” The Wall Street Journal, 7/22/09)

Republicans Want All Americans To Have Opportunity To Buy Health Coverage They Want. “Republicans are promoting commonsense reforms that make health care more affordable, reduce the number of uninsured Americans, and increase quality at a price our country can afford—while making sure that Americans who like their health care coverage can keep it.” (Rep. Roy Blunt, “Health Care Solutions Group,” Press Release, 6/17/09)

Republicans Believe No One Should Be Forced To Buy Coverage. “House Republicans on Wednesday unveiled a $700 billion health care plan that would offer tax credits to help people buy insurance, yet unlike Democratic proposals, wouldn’t require either individuals or employers to get coverage.” (Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, “House Republicans Unveil $700B Health Care Plan,” The Associated Press, 7/29/09)

Republicans Believe Pre-Existing Conditions Should No Longer Keep Anyone From Getting Coverage If They Want It. “Make quality health care coverage affordable and accessible for every American, regardless of pre-existing health conditions.” (Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, “House Republicans Unveil $700B Health Care Plan,” The Associated Press, 7/29/09)

Republicans Don’t Want Any American To Fear Costs While Shopping For Insurance Plans. “Under the Health Care Freedom Plan, Americans would be able to keep the care they have now, but if they are uninsured or unhappy with their current plan, they could access a voucher to purchase health insurance anywhere in the country. This will create a true, competitive market for health care that will lower costs and increase quality. And it levels the playing field so all Americans – regardless of their employment benefits or employment status — have the same access to quality health care.” (Sen. DeMint, “DeMint Introduces Health Care Freedom Plan,” Press Release, 6/23/09)

The Policies

This Year, Republicans Have Offered Multiple Bills That Aim To Increase Affordability, Accessibility, And Availability Of Health Care For All Americans.

• “Empowering Patients First Act” (Republican Study Committee, “RSC Unveils A Solution For Affordable, Quality Health Care,” Press Release, 7/30/09)

• “Improving Health Care For All Americans Act” (Rep. Shadegg (R-AZ), “Republicans Introduce: The Improving Health Care for All Americans Act,” Press Release, 7/14/09)

• “Health Care Freedom Act Of 2009” (Sen. Jim DeMint, “DeMint Introduces Health Care Freedom Plan,” Press Release, 6/23/09)

• “Patients’ Choice Act Of 2009” (Rep. Paul Ryan, “Senators Coburn, Burr, And Representatives Ryan, Nunes Offer A Better Path Forward On Health Care Reform,” Press Release, 5/20/09)

Republicans Health Care Policies Based On Common Sense Solutions Like Medical Liability Reform And Encouraging Healthy Behavior. “Republicans have put forward common sense solutions like reforming our medical liability laws to discourage junk lawsuits that make health care more expensive for everyone; strengthening wellness and prevention programs that encourage people to make healthy choices, such as quitting smoking and fighting obesity; and addressing the needs of small business without imposing new taxes that kill jobs.”  (Sen. Mitch McConnell, Republican Radio Address, 6/20/09)

Republicans Want Americans To Create Their Own Groups And Purchase Coverage Like Employers Do For Their Employees. “This legislation creates expanded options for the purchase of low-cost health care from new pooling mechanisms.  Today, the only health insurance pool available to Americans is their employer’s pool.  Americans not in an employer-sponsored pool buy in what is called the ‘individual market.’  The Improving Health Care for All Americans Act dramatically expands the insurance pools Americans can select to join by allowing churches, alumni associations, trade associations and other civic groups to set up new insurance pools and offer affordable health care packages to their members.  Instead of having only one group policy to choose from, under this bill, every American will be able to choose from a number of ‘group plans.’  This will make health care more affordable and portable while not locking individuals into staying at a job simply to keep their health coverage.  Families should not be forced to choose between leaving their employer and having health care.” (Rep. Shadegg (R-AZ), “Republicans Introduce: The Improving Health Care for All Americans Act,” Press Release, 7/14/09)

Republicans Propose Performance-Based Pay For Doctors To Help Bring Costs Down. “Roughly 75% of health-care spending is for the care of chronic conditions such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes—and there is little coordination of this care. We can save money and improve outcomes by using integrated networks of care with rigorous, transparent outcome measures emphasizing prevention and disease management.” (Gov. Bobby Jindal, Op-Ed, “How To Make Health-Care Reform Bipartisan,” The Wall Street Journal, 7/22/09)

For Americans Who Don’t Like Their Current Insurance, Republicans Will Offer Tax Credits To Purchase Plan They Like. “The bill allows Americans who don’t have employer-sponsored care or those not satisfied with their employer-sponsored plan to buy their own plan on the same tax-advantaged basis their employer enjoys.  Americans who pay income taxes get a dollar for dollar reduction in their tax bill up to $2500 for individuals and $5000 per family.  Americans who don’t pay income taxes get the same amount from the government to buy a policy of their choice; $2500 for individuals and $5000 per family.” (Rep. Shadegg (R-AZ), “Republicans Introduce: The Improving Health Care for All Americans Act,” Press Release, 7/14/09)

Republicans Propose To Bring Down Health Care Costs By Increasing Transparency And Decreasing Waste. “The Health Care Freedom Plan will also help bring down overall medical costs by reducing expensive malpractice lawsuits against physicians and hospitals and by adding transparency to the industry. This plan also ensures that Americans with pre-existing health conditions have access to affordable coverage through Federal block grants for state high-risk insurance programs.” (Sen. DeMint, “DeMint Introduces Health Care Freedom Plan,” Press Release, 6/23/09)

Republicans Believe Doctor-Patient Relationship Should Be Strengthened, Not Weakened. “‘The Patients’ Choice Act of 2009′ transforms health care in America by strengthening the relationship between the patient and the doctor; using choice and competition rather than rationing and restrictions to contain costs; and ensuring universal, affordable health care for all Americans.” (Rep. Paul Ryan, “Senators Coburn, Burr, And Representatives Ryan, Nunes Offer A Better Path Forward On Health Care Reform,” Press Release, 5/20/09)