The Ratcliffe Report: June 21st, 2015

Statement

Hi Friend and Happy Fathers Day,

The president and his administration are waging an assault on Medicare and seniors in the 4th District of Texas. Many seniors are already facing challenges getting the affordable care they need, and Obamacare is making it much worse. In a recent constituent survey, a whopping 82 percent of constituents said they are opposed to Obamacare. I hear your message loud and clear. One of the first votes I took in Congress was to repeal Obamacare in its entirety. This week, I continued to the fight on your behalf with several votes to improve health care in America and fight to move control into your hands and out of Washington's.

PROTECTING SENIORS' ACCESS TO CARE BY ELIMINATING IPAB

Under Obamacare, unelected bureaucrats in Washington have more power over Americans' health care than patients themselves. With skyrocketing care costs, a presidential appointed panel created under Obamacare gives a panel of 15 unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats sweeping authority to slash Medicare payments to providers or eliminate payments for certain treatments and procedures altogether. These changes shouldn't be made by Washington insiders, they should be led by patients and doctors. The Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act (H.R. 1190), is a bill that would repeal IPAB and protect seniors from its harmful and indiscriminate consequences. The U.S. House will more than likely vote on this next week with my strong support.

REPEALING THE MEDICAL DEVICE TAX

The United States is one of the only countries in the world that imposes a tax on the sale of life saving medical devices such as heart valves and insulin pumps. Obamacare levies a 2.3 percent tax on these devices which hinders innovation and increases the cost of these potentially life-saving devices to those who need them the most.

The Protect Medical Innovation Act (H.R. 160) repeals Obamacare's medical device tax, protects jobs, and keeps America on the cutting edge of technological innovation. Most importantly, it preserves patients' access to affordable, life saving devices. I'm grateful this bill passed with my support.

STRENGTHENING MEDICARE ADVANTAGE

Obamacare cuts more than $700B from Medicare to fund a massive new entitlement program, including cuts to the widely popular Medicare Advantage Program. Seniors already are facing challenges getting the care they need, which is why I just joined colleagues in the House to support a number of bills that strengthen Medicare Advantage and preserve seniors' vital access to care.

The Seniors' Health Care Plan Protection Act (H.R. 2582) would prevent the administration from terminating select Medicare Advantage plans which are unable to meet the complex demands of the current CMS system.

The Strengthening Medicare Advantage Through Innovation& Transparency for Seniors Act (H.R. 2570) would establish a demonstration program for Medicare Advantage plans to utilize Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) to "improve delivery of care by allowing them to lower costs for certain high value services and treatments that are clinically proven to promote better health outcomes."

ENDING THE ASSAULT ON MEDICARE AND SENIORS

Americans deserve the right to choose their own health care providers, plans, and doctors. The President's health care law is government at its worst -- intrusive, expensive, and full of broken promises. Worse yet, it continues to hurt job creation and economic growth. In fact, premiums for Texans on healthcare.gov are set to rise almost 25% next year according to a Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services report.

I am grateful to be your one voice in the U.S. House of Representatives. If you have questions about upcoming legislation, want further information and updates from my office, or just would like to engage on social media, be sure to click the badges below.

Thank you, and God bless.

Sincerely,

John Ratcliffe, U.S. Representative for the 4th District of Texas

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