[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 14577]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                               OBAMACARE

  (Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, since ObamaCare was first 
passed, we've known that it would cause premiums to rise and increase 
the cost of health insurance for millions of Americans.
  One issue that has not been talked about enough is the serious threat 
to the access of quality care for patients, especially in the rural 
parts of the country that I represent. This is a very serious issue in 
my district, and one of the main reasons that I support defunding this 
bill.
  As we get closer to the October 1 release date of the individual 
health insurance plans under ObamaCare, the threat of reduced access is 
quickly becoming the reality. Because of ObamaCare, one of the largest 
health insurers in Georgia is eliminating 40 percent of their contracts 
with hospitals and 30 percent of the contracts with doctors in the 
State and ending all voluntary out-of-State coverage.
  For my constituents in rural Georgia, we already face a shortage of 
care. In small rural communities, working-class patients have a more 
difficult time accessing the hospital or doctor that they may need.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues and the American people to look at 
the facts and ask: What good is a health insurance card when a patient 
cannot find a doctor or hospital that takes it? That's one of the 
reasons that I stand before you in strong support of defunding this 
destructive law and putting in place commonsense, market-based reforms.

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