Discuss bicameral solutions that American people support
Washington, D.C. – The House GOP Doctors Caucus met today with Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Tom Coburn (R-OK), the two Republican doctors in the Senate. The House GOP Doctors Caucus, chaired by Congressmen Phil Gingrey (R-GA) and Tim Murphy (R-PA), and the Senate doctors discussed substantive solutions to the current health care debate that don’t involve a government takeover of our health care system.
Moving forward, the House and Senate Republican doctors plan to continue to lend their medical expertise to the debate so that reform focuses on strengthening our nation’s health care for the benefit of patients, not their government.
The participants in the meeting released the following statements:
U.S. Senator John Barrasso, M.D. (R-Wyo.): “Health care is so very personal, and its reform will affect all Americans. It will have long-term consequences – for our nation’s financial health, for American families’ financial health, and for our ability to get the health care we need when we need it. Unfortunately my pleas for bipartisanship have been ignored. Effective health care reform must involve a serious, open and transparent national debate.”
U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK): “As a practicing physician, I have seen first-hand how escalating government involvement in health care has decreased patient control, limited choice and increased cost. I support true health care reform that empowers all Americans with that ability to receive quality care. Increasing government intervention and spending is not the solution. This isn’t about politics, this is about patients. My colleagues and I look forward to sharing our experiences and expertise in this critical debate so that Congress doesn’t repeat the failed policies of the past and so that every American has access to high quality, affordable health care.”
House GOP Doctors Caucus Co-Chair Dr. Phil Gingrey (GA-11): “Today’s meeting was proof positive that Republicans in the House and Senate have comprehensive solutions to address health care reform. In a week that started with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer saying Republicans don’t have any “real solutions or ideas,” today’s meeting was not only a substantive discussion of legislation that Republican doctors support, but demonstrated the unity and commitment between the House and Senate in enacting comprehensive, patient-centered reform. I look forward to continuing to work with my physician colleagues in the House and Senate to advance health care reform proposals that will improve the access, quality, and affordability of care for every American.”
House GOP Doctors Caucus Co-Chair Dr. Tim Murphy (PA-18): “Each member of the GOP Doctors Caucus relies on personal medical experiences to put forth meaningful and realistic policies. As we continue to focus on how to improve the delivery and quality of care for patients I welcome the input from our fellow doctors in the Senate. I look forward to working with them to move meaningful healthcare reforms in both Chambers.”
Dr. Paul Broun (GA-10): “After hosting two additional health care town halls in my district just yesterday, it’s clear to me that the American people still believe that we can improve America’s health care system without turning it over to the government. In spite of a summer filled with sound bites and seas of statistics, the American people remain hopeful for access to more doctors and treatments and less interference from insurance companies, special interests and of course Washington politicians. I believe the ideas discussed among the GOP Doctors Caucus are proposals the American people would embrace. I hope that the President opens his door to our ideas and opens his ears to the calls from Americans for reform without a $1.5 trillion government experiment.”
Dr. John Fleming (LA-04): As a physician with more than 30 years experience, I know the importance of making health care more available and accessible for all Americans. We must enact reforms that reduce the number of uninsured Americans by helping Americans keep health care coverage regardless of a change in or loss of a job and establish and/or reform existing programs to guarantee all Americans, regardless of pre-existing conditions or past illnesses, access to affordable coverage. A government takeover of health care is not the answer. We need to listen to the American people and give them the sensible health care reform they are demanding.
Dr. Phil Roe (TN-01): “As a physician who helped patients for over 30 years in Tennessee, I am deeply concerned about some of the changes being proposed in the health care legislation,” said Roe. “A clear byproduct of this legislation will be an expansive new bureaucracy put directly between patients and their doctors. Congress needs to work together to come up with true health care reform that does not compromise care. I am thankful for the chance to meet with my Congressional colleagues on this very important matter.”
Dr. Bill Cassidy (LA-06): “Physicians in the House and Senate bring real world experience to the health care debate. We are pushing for reform that lowers costs by empowering patients.”
Members of the House GOP Doctors Caucus include Congressmen Phil Gingrey (R-GA), Tim Murphy (R-PA), John Boozman (R-AR), Michael Burgess (R-TX), Charles Boustany (R-LA), Paul Broun (R-GA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Fleming (R-GA), John Linder (R-GA), Ron Paul (R-TX), Tom Price (R-GA), Phil Roe (R-TN), and Mike Simpson (R-ID).