Repeal health care law; enact improvements

It seems like the book on the president’s health care law has closed, but the court’s decision in June was just another chapter in a very long saga of a very bad bill.

Two years ago when the bill was passed, it contained no less than 21 tax increases, including the big one: the $750 fine for everyone who does not buy a government-approved plan.

Now that it’s clear that this tax will stay in place until repealed, the House of Representatives is ready and waiting to do the right thing. In January 2011, my very first vote as a member of Congress was cast in support of repealing the law. I recently voted to repeal it again.

In the meantime, I have spoken with well over 100 northern Illinois business owners, not to mention doctors and experts, about ways to move forward with policies that will actually help the economy and drive down health care prices as follows:

n Allow the purchase of insurance across state lines. This would allow for more competition and lower prices.

n Reform lawsuit abuse. When frivolous or overly ambitious lawsuits are filed against doctors and hospitals, defensive medicine costs skyrocket.

n Repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board. This unelected, unaccountable panel of bureaucrats in charge of making health care decisions will ultimately lead to the denial of care for seniors.

n Allow tax deductions for preventive health costs. Encourage memberships in fitness programs and weight loss programs.

n Disclose information about hospital charges. Patients often don’t know how much each test or service will cost until months after the fact.

I strongly favor allowing college students to stay on their parents’ plans until age 26, as well as measures that prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage because of a pre-existing condition.

Real reform is possible.