WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Whip Jon Kyl (Ariz.) made closing remarks at today’s meeting of the Senate Finance Committee. The following are his remarks as prepared for delivery:
“All of us here support health-care reform. But the bill we have before us is not one I can support.
“Americans have real concerns, and we should listen to what they’re saying. Americans are concerned about the cost of their health care premiums, yet, according to studies, including estimates of the Congressional Budget Office, new government-forced mandates in this bill will raise premiums on American families.
“They’re worried about the exploding debt, a new record deficit, and out-of-control spending, yet this bill spends nearly a trillion dollars on a massive new entitlement we cannot afford.
“Americans like the wide variety of health care choices they have now, and the overwhelming majority are happy with their current plans. But this bill eliminates many of those choices, including seniors’ choices because of deep Medicare cuts; and it violates the president’s pledge that happily-insured Americans get to keep what they have.
“It also violates the president’s pledge not to increase taxes on middle-income families. Many middle-income Americans, including the chronically ill, will see a tax increase under this bill.
“Finally, this bill leads to the rationing of health care—something all Americans, but especially seniors—have told us they’re very worried about.
“Because my time today is limited, I can’t discuss each of these concerns and why they’re all important. So I’ll briefly discuss two in particular: the effects of Medicare cuts and rationing.
“Seniors are very worried about Medicare cuts, and we should take their concerns seriously. CBO estimates this bill cuts Medicare spending by $449.4 billion over 10 years. Hundreds of billions of dollars will be cut from hospitals, nursing homes, home health care providers, and hospice care. Nearly $120 billion would be slashed from Medicare Advantage.
“You can’t make such massive cuts without limiting seniors’ care. Seniors like the choices they now have, and they don’t deserve to have them ripped away to help pay for this bill.
“This bill, in fact, leads to rationing in several ways. It sets up a Medicare Commission, which would have power to automatically cut Medicare spending unless Congress acted to stop the cuts. Arbitrary payment cuts to already low provider reimbursements create shortages, and, therefore, result in the delay and denial of care.
“One of the ways this will occur is explained in the Wall Street Journal, “Beginning in 2015, Medicare would rank doctors against their peers based on how much they cost the program—and then automatically cut payments by five percent to anyone who falls into the 90th percentile or above.”
“So, every year, 1 in 10 physicians would be punished for ordering what the government says is too many tests, treatments, or medications for their patients. “This provision applies immense pressure on physicians to cut costs and provide less care, rather than provide the care that leads to the best outcomes. Specialists, who make use of the more expensive procedures and technology to treat seniors and the chronically ill, would be most affected.
“This is rationing, and it’s wrong.
“Direct rationing can occur when the HHS Secretary uses Comparative Effectiveness Research to make coverage decisions, as the bill directs. Nothing in the bill protects Americans against this rationing, despite numerous Republican amendments to ensure such protection.
“Republicans believe Americans deserve a better approach to health-care reform. We want to address the problems of cost and access with a patient-centered approach that targets solutions to specific problems.
“Many of our proposals to drive down costs and increase access, including medical malpractice reform, association health plans, and allowing people to buy health care policies across state lines, wouldn’t cost a dime. I had hoped such sensible measures would be included in the final bill, but our amendments were rejected on party-line votes.
“The whole point of health-care reform is to make things better for Americans. The bill fails that test, while imposing huge costs and limiting choices. It should be rejected.”
