Since the beginning of the health care reform debate, I have argued that, to achieve true reform, health care costs must be reduced. The failure of legislation now pending in Congress to reduce costs means that these reform proposals would fail.
There is overwhelming, credible evidence of the bills’ failure to reduce health care costs. Why does this fact continue to be ignored by President Obama and Democratic leaders in Congress? Two recent reports are particularly important to consider.
First, the chief actuary for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the agency that administers Medicare, reports that the Senate health care plan would increase national health spending by $222 billion over the next 10 years. In addition, CMS could not substantiate Democrats’ claim that the Senate bill would reduce costs by cutting waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare.
Another study, this one completed by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, found that premiums in the individual insurance market would increase up to $2,100 per year for families under the Senate bill.
To ignore these and other studies is irresponsible. President Obama promised to cut Americans’ health insurance premiums. Yet, multiple analyses show that health costs would continue to rise under the current plans and that any deficit reduction claims are achieved only through budget gimmicks.
President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid must not ignore the evidence. Doing so will have drastic consequences for families and small businesses in Kansas, as well as the financial future of our country.
Congressman
 Jerry Moran
First District of Kansas
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Since the beginning of the health care reform debate, I have argued that, to achieve true reform, health care costs must be reduced. The failure of legislation now pending in Congress to reduce costs means that these reform proposals would fail.
There is overwhelming, credible evidence of the bills’ failure to reduce health care costs. Why does this fact continue to be ignored by President Obama and Democratic leaders in Congress? Two recent reports are particularly important to consider.
First, the chief actuary for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the agency that administers Medicare, reports that the Senate health care plan would increase national health spending by $222 billion over the next 10 years. In addition, CMS could not substantiate Democrats’ claim that the Senate bill would reduce costs by cutting waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare.
Another study, this one completed by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, found that premiums in the individual insurance market would increase up to $2,100 per year for families under the Senate bill.
To ignore these and other studies is irresponsible. President Obama promised to cut Americans’ health insurance premiums. Yet, multiple analyses show that health costs would continue to rise under the current plans and that any deficit reduction claims are achieved only through budget gimmicks.
President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid must not ignore the evidence. Doing so will have drastic consequences for families and small businesses in Kansas, as well as the financial future of our country.
Congressman
 Jerry Moran
First District of Kansas
