Robert Hurt and two state lawmakers go to bat for George Allen on national health care law
Robert Hurt
U.S. Congressman Robert Hurt, R-Chatham, Virginia Sen. Steve Martin, R-Chesterfield County, and Del. John Cox, R-Ashland, held a conference call this morning to tout U.S. Senate candidate George Allen and push for repeal of the 2009 health care reform law, saying it would place unreasonable mandates on businesses and hurt job growth.
Hurt said he’s heard lots about the law during his travels around the 5th Congressional District.
“One of the huge sources of concern is the president’s health care law that was adopted by the previous Congress,” Hurt said. “Concern from people who want quality health care at an affordable price, concern from providers. But important as anything it’s frustrating for business folks who feel like they’re being punished and have to suffer not only the real consequences but also the uncertainty of where we go from here.”
Hurt said the House passed a measure to repeal the health care law, but it was not approved by the U.S. Senate. He said Allen “is the kind of person we need in Washington” to change that.
I asked about Tim Kaine’s defense of the law in Roanoke earlier this week, particular four provisions that have already gone into effect: The allowance for children to stay on their parents’ plan until age 26; a prohibition on insurance companies turning down patients for pre-existing conditions; tax credits for small businesses to buy insurance; and the expansion of credits to help seniors pay for prescriptions and to receive free preventative care.
Hurt said it’s important when talking about repeal of the health care law to also talk about what will replace it.
“I think there’s probably support in a replacement for health care reform, which is desperately needed,” Hurt said. But, he added, “The underlying principles for the replacement have got to be free-market principles.”
Hurt predicted the law as passed would drive doctors out of the business, creating diminished supply as demand increases. That will result in increased health care costs, he said.
“We have to talk about a replacement bill when we talk about repeal,” Hurt said. “The American people know that health care needs to be fixed. I think Gov. Allen knows and supports that.”
– Mason Adams
December 15, 2011 - 11:35 AM
It’s the free market system that has been driving the high cost of health care in the US since the early 1980′s when legislation allowed the health insurance providers that were supposed to be consumer based non profits to become for profit entities. The tacking of a 20% or greater profit margin for insurance companies and the way so called non profit providers like carilion have been allowed to become conglomerates with profit based subsidiaries has driven health care costs out of reason.
Until we recognize that health care for people should not be a profit center for stockholders and high priced CEO’s, we will never be able to provide health care for all our citizens at a reasonable cost.
@1
Wrong again Dave. The day insurance came into the picture, medical prices skyrocketed. I say eliminate health ins. entirely and you will see prices collapse in a matter of months.
Dave you have never seen healthcare operate in a free market. That has not existed in your entire lifetime. In fact, neither of us have lived during a time when true free markets existed at all. Surely you are smart enough to realize that.
Dave is right, it has indeed been the American version of “the free market system” and the American version of “Capitalism” “that has been driving the high cost of health care in the US since the early 1980′s when legislation allowed the health insurance providers that were supposed to be consumer based non profits to become for profit entities“. Keep in mind that the American version of either is “The best politicians money can buy” finding yet another way to intertwine their business and the government largess and voila, here we are decades later with a system that works for most but has become incredibly inefficient, cost prohibitive, and onerous for all.
He is also right that “The tacking of a 20% or greater profit margin for insurance companies and the way so called non profit providers like carilion have been allowed to become conglomerates with profit based subsidiaries has driven health care costs out of reason“. A perfect example of our “crony capitalism” and corrupt legislative process.
I absolutely agree that “Until we recognize that health care for people should not be a profit center for stockholders and high priced CEO’s, we will never be able to provide health care for all our citizens at a reasonable cost“.
Agree with every item or not, the health care reform did help millions of people and did start the issue on the path to being dealt with. This has been talked about and been a serious problem for decades FGS. Can anyone put off the partisan blinders long enough to work for a solution on ANYTHING?
It is ludicrous to think that the free market (if it existed) or the capitalistic system can fix what has gone terribly wrong with delivery of health care and the utter domination of the insurance industry IMO. Hell, we are still fighting over whether people should have medical care if they cannot afford it, how can we fix the system when we cannot even agree on the basic human right to medical care?
“how can we fix the system when we cannot even agree on the basic human right to medical care?”
We can’t agree on that Sandi because no one has a right to force others to take care of them. That isn’t a right except indide the brain of a socialist like you.
And that Greg Aldridge, is the problem in a nutshell. The Republican/TP philosophy that was made clear in that early primary debate hwen the question was raised about what we should do when the guy who can afford but does not have insurance shows up at the hospital with a heart attack.
And the Republican/TPers shouted “Let him die”! That seems to be your philosophy and it is one that the vast majority of Americans will never agree with.
“how can we fix the system when we cannot even agree on the basic human right to medical care”
There is no “right” to medical care..period..
So every ER in the country is run by “socialists like me”? What you believe is not relevant. The reality is that anyone who comes into an Emergency Room receives medical care regardless of their ability or inability to pay. Why would that be possible, or happen every day if the majority in this nation did not believe that medical care is a right?