Reed Calls on Eric Massa to Keep Government Out of Doctor-Patient Relationship

Describing health care decisions as "personal choices between patients and doctors," Tom Reed this morning called for the debate over reforming health care to move away from proposals for government-run medicine. 

 

"We all agree that we need healthcare reform. Tonight President Obama will lay out what will hopefully be a revised health care proposal," Reed said. "It is time to create real solutions rather than a massive new government bureaucracy." 

 

"I'm opposed to putting the government between you and your doctor," Reed declared. "Eric Massa is a sponsor of HR 676. Let's be clear. Eric Massa's plan is government-run medicine." 

 

"We should subject health insurance to competition," Reed continued. "People should be able to choose their own plan that allows them to work with their doctors, not a government board, to determine what treatments is necessary and when." 

 

Reed pointed out that Massa has been opposed to the current proposal because it does not allow for a complete government take-over of the health care industry as Massa's bill, HR 676, does. 

 

"We need to look at liability reform, malpractice reform, allowing insurance companies to compete across state lines," Reed said. "These three things can immediately drive costs downward." Last month Reed proposed a plan for employers to receive tax credits and allow employees to choose from competing plans and levels of service. 

 

"More government involvement is not the answer," Reed commented. "If you think Medicaid, which is nearly bankrupt, is a success, wait until you see government-run health care."