[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 621 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 621

     Ensuring access to affordable and quality health care without 
increasing the Federal budget or contributing to market inflation while 
providing greater choices for patient-focused care for individuals and 
                               families.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              July 9, 2009

  Mrs. McMorris Rodgers submitted the following resolution; which was 
 referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to 
the Committees on Ways and Means and the Judiciary, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Ensuring access to affordable and quality health care without 
increasing the Federal budget or contributing to market inflation while 
providing greater choices for patient-focused care for individuals and 
                               families.

Whereas there are real challenges facing the United States health care system, 
        and Congress continues to debate how to expand access to affordable, 
        quality health care and health insurance coverage;
Whereas the United States spends substantially more on health care than other 
        developed countries, with total health care spending reaching 
        $2,200,000,000,000 a year or close to $7,000 for each American;
Whereas health care spending consumes about 17 percent of the gross domestic 
        product;
Whereas there are approximately 46 million uninsured in the United States;
Whereas 18 to 35 year olds are the most underinsured section of the population;
Whereas more than half of the uninsured work for a small business;
Whereas every American should have health insurance coverage and the freedom to 
        choose and control it;
Whereas health care is personal and the doctor-patient relationship must be 
        protected;
Whereas Americans value choice and control over their health care decisions;
Whereas greater government involvement in our Nation's health sector would lead 
        to higher costs, fewer medical discoveries and treatments, delays in 
        access to care, and excessive and expensive increases in paperwork and 
        bureaucracy;
Whereas Americans can improve quality and access in a way that also reduces 
        costs by bringing more competition and choice into the health care 
        sector and by giving people additional tools and incentives to become 
        equal partners in managing their health spending and their care; and
Whereas Americans must begin to refocus our Nation's health sector on 
        encouraging wellness and prevention, since health problems caught early 
        are far less expensive to effectively address and treat: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that 
in order to ensure access to affordable and quality health care without 
increasing the Federal budget or contributing to market inflation while 
providing greater choices for patient-focused care for individuals and 
families, the following principles should be included in any health 
care bill considered by the 111th Congress:
            (1) The ability to receive point-of-service health care in 
        preventative, emergency, and rehabilitative settings in rural 
        and urban areas. This must also advance critical health care 
        training programs to retain health care professionals and find 
        a meaningful, long-term solution for the sustainable growth 
        rate formula that will accurately reimburse physicians for the 
        care they provide to Medicare beneficiaries.
            (2) With refundable tax credits for the purchase of health 
        insurance by low-income recipients together with tax credits 
        for small businesses and access to association and small 
        business, the cost of health care is within the reach of 
        families and individuals while reducing costs without hurting 
        the patient.
            (3) Medical liability reform to bring much needed change to 
        the civil justice system that is being exploited by trial 
        lawyers and is responsible for driving up malpractice and 
        health care costs.
            (4) Safe and effective health service with measurable 
        results through the implementation of health information 
        technology.
            (5) Build new incentives into health plans to encourage 
        wellness, prevention, and to provide incentives for people to 
        make smart choices involving their health, care, treatment, and 
        health insurance coverage.
            (6) Give people the ability to choose the best health care 
        plan and options to meet their individual and family needs 
        through portable health insurance and Health Savings Accounts.
                                 <all>