Sir,
As a constituent in your district I would like to address some issues with the “Principles on Health Care Reform” that are listed on your website. Specifically item numbers 1,2,4,8 and 12.
1. "Make quality health care coverage affordable and accessible for every American, regardless of pre-existing health conditions."
With this I whole-heartedly agree, but in addition to removing restrictions on pre-existing conditions, yearly and lifetime caps must be removed. No American should lose their home, their life’s savings and go bankrupt because of illness or injury, and right now that is an all to frequent occurrence while insurance companies are making outrageous profits off the suffering and ruin of hard working Americans.
2. "Protect Americans from being forced into a new government-run health care plan that would: a) eliminate the health coverage that more than 100 million Americans currently receive through their job; b) limit choice of doctors and medical treatment options; and c) result in the federal government taking control of health care."
This is a complete false hood and I am appalled that you would post such rumors. I respectfully request that you produce the exact text from the proposal that states these things to be true, or I request you make rapid retraction on this.
The Health Reform plan that President Obama is proposing will in no way force anyone into a government run health care. Nor will it eliminate 100 million people from coverage through their employers, choices of providers, treatments, options or result in Federal Government “takeover” of Health care.
However, with the exception of government takeover, everything you mentioned is exactly what is occurring now with private insurance plans. Insurance companies are the ones that decide who a patient can or cannot see. What treatment they will or will not approve as well as which facilities can or cannot be used. Additionally through pages of scrambled verbiage in fine print they absolutely ensure their own rights to drop any patient, at any time often for outrageously bogus reasons.
4. "Ensure that medical decisions are made by patients and their doctors, not government bureaucrats."
Yes, medical decisions should be made between doctors and patients; nowhere does the reform proposal state that government bureaucrats intend to interfere in that process. Insurance companies certainly do interfere however, by letting bean counters with little or no medical knowledge be the ones to decide what care a patient will be “authorized” to receive. In doing so they are directly responsible for driving up health care costs by forcing the providers to hire hordes of people to repeatedly process and appeal their constant denials for care. And that cost is passed off to patients by increased premiums and co-payments.
8. "Improve individuals' ability to buy innovative, portable and affordable health insurance products of their choice, including the sale of health care coverage across state lines."
This is a very important point and certainly needs to happen. But if the cost health care coverage from private “for profit only” companies is not brought under control, eventually people will not have the ability to afford coverage at all.
As long as competition between private insurers is only for which one can make the greatest profit, cost control will never happen. This is why we need a public option. A public option, not for profit, is the only way to force these private companies to reduce their rates. On this point as the representative of my district I implore you to vote, not only for insurance reform but for a public option as well.
We must regulate the practices of private insurance companies and take the decision-making rights away from bean counters and return it to the providers. Not only must we make mandatory regulations to revoke insurers rights to deny coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions. They must also not be allowed to place cap limits on coverage that forces Americans into financial ruin, or have the ability to drop patients all together through fine print loop holes. It should also be made mandatory that all health insurance companies fully cover well visits and preventative care.
Putting this kind of insurance reform into place alone will not reduce or control the cost of care, but competition from a public option will. The American public has been gouged and shafted by the health insurance industry for far to long and it needs to stop. The choice of whether an American citizen lives or dies should not be based on an insurance company’s profit or loss margin.
12. "Crack down on waste, fraud and abuse."
Cracking down on fraud waste and abuse is just a start of the massive cost reductions that “could” be made. As an example the cost of medications alone in some cases imposes extreme financial hardships on patients, yet pharmaceutical companies spend billions on public advertisements alone. How many drug ads do you see on television every day? They spend even more wining and dining providers as well as providing lunches and private parties for entire medical offices. This takes place in every doctor’s office across this country on a regular basis.
Why are things like this allowed? I’ve traveled and lived all over the world and I’ve never seen TV drug ads anywhere outside of this country. And it’s not just pharmaceutical companies, it’s insurance companies, hospitals, clinics, urgent care facilities, and just about anything you can name associated with the health care industry. Trillions of dollars are being spent on marketing and every dime of it is directly applied to the cost of medical services and care. This is an outrage in itself.
We need reform, we need a public health care option, and we need to put the well being of the American people above corporate greed. As my representative I urge you to stand up not only for me, but also for all your constituents and vote YES for Health Care Reform.
Respectfully
Paula Neustatter
Woodford, Virginia
Monday 9/21/09
Well folks, not only did congressman Wittman not respond to this open letter on line. The “only” response I received was this generic email identical, verbatim to the one my friend in Stafford received. I understand that the Congressman receives thousands of letters, and that he has staff people to help him address all of them. But receiving a totally generic response that is apparently sent to everyone tells me that apparently what his constituents have to say is not important enough to have his staff actually address their issues.
Congressman Wittman, your constituents want answers, not Spam.
Here is the response:
"Congressman Robert J. Wittman"to paneustatter@gmail.com
10:23am
Dear Ms. Neustatter:
Thank you for contacting my office regarding health care reform. I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts with me. I value your views on the important issues facing our Commonwealth and the Nation.
Like you, I am concerned about rising health care costs and the increasing number of Americans who do not have health insurance, have trouble keeping it, or are unable to find affordable health care. I also believe that those in Washington should not interfere with your relationship and confidentiality with your doctor, limit your right to seek better care, or raise your taxes.
As you may know, Representative John Dingell introduced H.R. 3200, the America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, on July 14, 2009. This legislation would create a government-run health plan, mandate health plan benefits, impose employer and employee payroll taxes and establish the Health Benefits Advisory Committee. Furthermore, it would create a national health insurance exchange in which insurance plans would be offered for purchase. A federal commissioner would govern the exchange and would be charged with determining which plans could enter and compete in the marketplace with the government-run option. H.R. 3200 would automatically enroll all Medicare-participating physicians in the government-run plan.
Additionally, H.R. 3200 would establish a Health Benefits Advisory Committee to recommend minimum federal benefits standards and cost-sharing levels. The Committee, in conjunction with the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), would define what is 'acceptable' health insurance and impose new mandates on individuals and insurance carriers. Under the bill, all Americans would be required to have health insurance with a few exceptions.
This legislation also includes many tax increases to pay for health care reform including an 8 percent payroll surcharge, or 'pay-or-play' provision, for businesses that cannot afford to purchase coverage for their employees. Under this provision, businesses that opt out of the government-run system will be subject to an indexed payroll tax. A small business with a payroll of $350,000 to $400,000 would be subject to a 6 percent payroll tax which increases to 8 percent for a payroll over $400,000. This legislation would also impose a 2.5 percent tax on individuals who opt out of a government-approved health plan.
H.R. 3200 passed the House Committees on Ways and Means by a vote of 23-18 and Education and Labor by a vote of 26-22 on July 17, 2009 and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce by a vote of 31-28 on July 31, 2009. Currently, this legislation is awaiting further consideration in the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
You may be interested to know that during the August district work period I held three town hall meetings in Warsaw, Newport News and Fredericksburg to discuss H.R. 3200 and other important health care issues. I was encouraged to see hundreds of First District residents attend these town hall meetings. Many asked questions and commented on this legislation. During the district work period, I also visited many health care providers and patient advocates in the First District to understand the specific needs of our health care industry.
There is no doubt that real health care reform is critically needed. It is important that Congress support legislation that provides access to quality medical care for Americans without health care coverage. I support a consumer-driven system in which key decisions are made by you, your family and your physician. Competition is critically important in health care as in every facet of our economy. I also believe that those in Washington should not interfere with your relationship and confidentiality with your doctor, limit your right to seek better care, or raise your taxes.
I believe it is important that individuals in the First District have the opportunity to comment on H.R. 3200 and other health care reform issues, and I am continuing to seek comments from constituents on this important legislation. Please rest assured, I will continue to support health care reform legislation that promotes quality, accessibility and affordability in the provision of health care. Thank you again for sharing your views and opinions with me. I am committed to serving you to the best of my abilities. If I can ever be of assistance to you or your family, please do not hesitate to call me at (202) 225-4261 or contact me online at: http://www.wittman.house.gov/.
Sincerely,Robert J. WittmanMember of Congress
Please Note: This mailing is sent from an automated account and is unattended. If you would like to subscribe to my newsletter or submit additional correspondence please visit http://www.wittman.house.gov/
Congressman Wittman, your constituents want answers, not Spam.
Here is the response:
"Congressman Robert J. Wittman"
10:23am
Dear Ms. Neustatter:
Thank you for contacting my office regarding health care reform. I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts with me. I value your views on the important issues facing our Commonwealth and the Nation.
Like you, I am concerned about rising health care costs and the increasing number of Americans who do not have health insurance, have trouble keeping it, or are unable to find affordable health care. I also believe that those in Washington should not interfere with your relationship and confidentiality with your doctor, limit your right to seek better care, or raise your taxes.
As you may know, Representative John Dingell introduced H.R. 3200, the America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, on July 14, 2009. This legislation would create a government-run health plan, mandate health plan benefits, impose employer and employee payroll taxes and establish the Health Benefits Advisory Committee. Furthermore, it would create a national health insurance exchange in which insurance plans would be offered for purchase. A federal commissioner would govern the exchange and would be charged with determining which plans could enter and compete in the marketplace with the government-run option. H.R. 3200 would automatically enroll all Medicare-participating physicians in the government-run plan.
Additionally, H.R. 3200 would establish a Health Benefits Advisory Committee to recommend minimum federal benefits standards and cost-sharing levels. The Committee, in conjunction with the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), would define what is 'acceptable' health insurance and impose new mandates on individuals and insurance carriers. Under the bill, all Americans would be required to have health insurance with a few exceptions.
This legislation also includes many tax increases to pay for health care reform including an 8 percent payroll surcharge, or 'pay-or-play' provision, for businesses that cannot afford to purchase coverage for their employees. Under this provision, businesses that opt out of the government-run system will be subject to an indexed payroll tax. A small business with a payroll of $350,000 to $400,000 would be subject to a 6 percent payroll tax which increases to 8 percent for a payroll over $400,000. This legislation would also impose a 2.5 percent tax on individuals who opt out of a government-approved health plan.
H.R. 3200 passed the House Committees on Ways and Means by a vote of 23-18 and Education and Labor by a vote of 26-22 on July 17, 2009 and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce by a vote of 31-28 on July 31, 2009. Currently, this legislation is awaiting further consideration in the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
You may be interested to know that during the August district work period I held three town hall meetings in Warsaw, Newport News and Fredericksburg to discuss H.R. 3200 and other important health care issues. I was encouraged to see hundreds of First District residents attend these town hall meetings. Many asked questions and commented on this legislation. During the district work period, I also visited many health care providers and patient advocates in the First District to understand the specific needs of our health care industry.
There is no doubt that real health care reform is critically needed. It is important that Congress support legislation that provides access to quality medical care for Americans without health care coverage. I support a consumer-driven system in which key decisions are made by you, your family and your physician. Competition is critically important in health care as in every facet of our economy. I also believe that those in Washington should not interfere with your relationship and confidentiality with your doctor, limit your right to seek better care, or raise your taxes.
I believe it is important that individuals in the First District have the opportunity to comment on H.R. 3200 and other health care reform issues, and I am continuing to seek comments from constituents on this important legislation. Please rest assured, I will continue to support health care reform legislation that promotes quality, accessibility and affordability in the provision of health care. Thank you again for sharing your views and opinions with me. I am committed to serving you to the best of my abilities. If I can ever be of assistance to you or your family, please do not hesitate to call me at (202) 225-4261 or contact me online at: http://www.wittman.house.gov/.
Sincerely,Robert J. WittmanMember of Congress
Please Note: This mailing is sent from an automated account and is unattended. If you would like to subscribe to my newsletter or submit additional correspondence please visit http://www.wittman.house.gov/
