I practiced as a physician for nearly three decades before being elected to Congress. During those years, I experienced the health care system firsthand as a doctor, a practice manager, a patient, and a caregiver—in each of those roles, federal government interference was my greatest source of frustration and disappointment.
A Better Way to Care for Americans
“Americans deserve a health care system built for the 21st century that embraces growth, innovation, and medical advancements.”
Por:
Michael C. Burgess.
U.S. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan with Bishop Shirley Holloway speaking about A Better Way agenda
Imagen Mark Wilson/Getty Images
The empty promises of the Affordable Care Act have left us with a health care system that has compromised accessibility, quality of care, and affordability. But today House Republicans unveiled a better way—a better way to increase access to affordable health insurance for all Americans, without federal mandates. A better way to empower states and individuals to make the choices that serve their health needs. And a better way to ensure that federal health programs are fiscally sustainable and set individuals on a path to good health and independence.
Throughout the development of our ACA alternative there was no shortage of health care bills and ideas that could be combined in countless ways to form a replacement plan. This required hard work and compromise to come together on a single policy.
Despite a near universal desire for an end to Venezuela’s manmade disaster, sending in U.S forces to take out the Maduro regime would be counter-productive. It should be categorically rejected by interim president Juan Guaidó, not to mention the Trump administration.
The firing of undocumented workers at Trump's golf clubs just shows how the practice of employing immigrants without legal work papers is much more common than we might imagine. Such is life in the United States.
The Trump administration should be wary of fueling fake news predictions about an imminent American invasion which unrealistically raises expectations about Maduro's removal.
At some point we will have to accept the fact that the border between Mexico and the United States is nothing more than an invention.
The United States has had a major role in the evolving drama of the fight for democracy in Venezuela and Nicaragua. And so far, it’s been surprisingly coordinated, a veritable model of multilateralism.
Has the Maduro regime reached breaking point? It remains hard to say, but tomorrow is another - more hopeful - day for the restoration of democracy in the South American nation.
It’s impossible to get into Trump’s head but what comes out of his mouth are racist remarks. But, saddest of all are the millions who tolerate his views, cheer him on and emulate his behavior.
The time is well past due for the U.S. government to conduct a thorough review of leaders and their senior colleagues before they leave office to determine if they merit visas.
As we saw last April when Congress repealed the senseless and draconian Sustainable Growth Rate, we can only succeed when we can place aside personal agendas and unite behind a shared priority.
Speaker Ryan convened Members of Congress who could provide critical perspectives from a variety of backgrounds and experiences to form the Task Force on Health Care Reform and shape common sense policy that puts patients and doctors back in the driver’s seat.
The Republican health care plan focuses on driving higher quality health care options and access to care, while shrinking the nation’s deficit. As a key component to this plan, we sought to empower patients to make their own choices, putting power back in the hands of patients and doctors. I have been a longtime advocate of flexible programs built on flexible health savings accounts (HSAs). These savings accounts allow individuals to set aside pre-tax dollars to be used for medical expenses each year. Giving consumer-based coverage options, like HSAs, a greater role in the American health care system would put choice back into the hands of patients in a time when deductibles and out-of-pocket limitations have been growing at a frightening pace.
This better way eases the harsh restrictions around HSA policy imposed by the current tax code and the Administration and allows for broader limits on establishing and contributing to an HSA. This common sense, patient-centered reform promotes consumer choice and responsibility in the health care setting, without forcing individuals to buy health insurance that fails to meet their needs.
Our country was founded on the pillars of freedom, liberty, and individualism. These values should not be discounted when crafting policies to create a more confident America.
Americans deserve a health care system built for the 21 st century that embraces growth, innovation, and medical advancements.
House Republicans have outlined our ideas to end the downward spiral into which the ACA set our nation’s health care system and replace it with our promise of accessibility, quality of care, and affordability. We are prepared to roll up our sleeves and get to work delivering on that promise to the American people.
Disclaimer: We selected this Op-Ed to be published in our opinion section as a contribution to public debate. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of its author(s) and/or the organization(s) they represent and do not reflect the views or the editorial line of Univision Noticias.