[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 47 (Tuesday, April 26, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 26, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                           HEALTH CARE REFORM

  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, many of my colleagues would have the 
American people believe that a government-run, Big Brother-like health 
care delivery system is not only necessary, but rather a must. This 
ill-informed argument is almost always supported by the word 
``crisis.''
  In my estimation of this appraisal, crisis implies panic and bigger 
government--a lack of faith in the individual. I believe that the 
United States has the finest health care in the world.
  Our employer-based system covers between 85 to 87 percent of all 
Americans, and in my home State of Michigan over 90 percent are 
covered.
  As a former small business owner, I understood all too well the state 
of our Nation's health care delivery system. Day-in and day-out, I had 
the opportunity to help my employees and clients deal with the crush of 
burdensome paperwork, interpreting confusing policy language, and 
making sure that their health dollars were not wasted.
  Now as a Member of Congress who campaigned on reform, specifically 
health care reform, I am still wrestling with these and other equally 
difficult health issues.
  Individuals may suggest that it is easy for me and a few of my 
colleagues to take a no crisis position because the taxpayers are 
funding our health care benefits. In my case, they are wrong. My wife, 
Sandie, and I have chosen not to participate in the congressional 
health plan. Instead, we selected a private plan outside the 
congressional system that meets our needs.
  Does this mean that there aren't problems? Certainly not. Americans 
deserve health care reform that includes the following:
  Portability of coverage--no one should lose their health care 
coverage due to changes in their employment status.
  Costs of coverage must come down--so-called community rating is 
anything but reflective of the community. Rates should accurately 
reflect costs associated for that individual rather than a region or 
age group.
  An end to the preexisting conditions exclusion--no one should be 
denied coverage merely on the basis of whether or not they have had a 
specific illness or disability.
  Technology needs to be introduced to help reduce needless paperwork--
the industry has been studying electronic conversion for several years, 
and with mounting health care costs, there is no time like the present 
to put this change into effect.
  The self-employed need a tax deduction--by and large, the self-
employed are small business persons who are providing as much insurance 
as they can afford. Is another tax the proper way to reward these 
people?
  And finally, significant steps must be taken to ease burdensome 
litigation brought on by malpractice suits.
  These challenges posed by the health care debate revolve around self-
determination versus government-run bureaucracy. All of these elements 
are central provisions of Congressman Michel's bill H.R. 3080--a 
reasonable, commonsense approach to rational health care reform.
  I believe in the individual and the spirit of free market 
competition. And it is this fight Republicans are taking to Capitol 
Hill, and it is one we will ultimately win, guaranteeing quality care 
for all Americans.

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