I was impressed by President Obama’s speech tonight. He maintained his commitment to reform, he invited all sides to the negotiation table, but he also made it clear: those who only want to spread misinformation and block reform will be called out.
I have heard from constituents and stake holders across my district and there is a broad agreement that we need reform now. We must expand access, we must control costs, we must provide a sense of security that health care will be available regardless of a “pre-existing condition” or if you find yourself between jobs.
Most importantly, we need to bring the focus of health care back to the relationship between doctor and patient. Not doctor and insurance company, or patient and bureaucrat. We need a system that rewards wellness, not a system that encourages unnecessary tests. We need reform that reimburses primary care physicians and encourages more young doctors to move to locations and fields where they are desperately needed.
We have already made more progress than any Congress in a generation, and I believe we will be able to deliver a bill that will give Americans more security with their health care, set a good foundation to lower costs, and improve preventive care. Under President Obama's leadership, we have cleared the air. Now it's time for Congress - House and Senate - to do the work.
