The major issue of concern discussed at the Listening Post for Rep. Vicky Hartzler was the effort to repeal and replace ObamaCare. Hartzler staff member Steve Walsh was on hand at the California City Hall on Dec. 20 for the event.
"The fact is that the Affordable Care Act is UN-affordable to many families in Missouri, and elsewhere in the country," Walsh said.
Gail Hughes and Tawnia Adams were present and asked questions about the future of health insurance for young people. Topics at the top of the list appeared to be providing health care for young people up to age 26, insurance for those with pre-existing conditions and pharmaceutical availability.
Walsh explained that all of those are being considered, along with the concerns about reducing costs. It is considered allowing insurance to be sold across state lines would be helpful, since that would increase the number of insurers. Some changes in tort law are also being considered, since physicians and hospitals may over-test the patient to protect themselves from lawsuits.
The GOP is pursuing "A Better Way" initiative, part of which is a blueprint for healthcare reform. The idea is to provide the people with more choices and lower costs, and real protection and peace of mind.
A synopsis of the health care reform proposals includes: allowing purchases of policies across state lines; allowing portability of policies from job to job; allowing small businesses to band together to create larger pools of employees and bring down costs; enact liability reform to ensure patients who suffer losses are compensated, put reasonable caps in place to ensure awards are not exorbitant and don't drive up premiums for all; protecting young people by allowing them to remain on a parent's policy until the age of 26; and ensuring the right of all citizens, even those with pre-existing conditions, to purchase coverage.
At least one bill will be filed early in the new session of Congress in January and the effort to improve health care will be in full swing. Note that any change would be implemented over a reasonable time period to ensure no one suddenly loses his or her insurance, Hartzler's staff said.
For additional information, go online at http://abetterway.speaker.gov/?page=health-care