Congressman Marchant is strongly opposed to government-controlled health care. Congressman Marchant believes that our current health care system is the envy of the world; and while there are some aspects of the system that need reform, a massive government overhaul of our health care system would result in the destruction of American medicine through individual and employer mandates, devastating cuts to Medicare, and increased taxes on individuals and small businesses. Government bureaucrats should never interfere in the physician-patient relationship, and Congressman Marchant is fighting hard to defeat any legislation that would result in more government interference in the health care system.
On March 21, 2010, Nancy Pelosi and Congressional Democrats rammed their government takeover of health care through the House on a narrow and partisan vote. This 2,700-page bill will lead to increased premiums, massive tax increases, deep cuts to Medicare, harsh individual and employer mandates, taxpayer funding of abortion, and new government czars charged with rationing health care. Congressman Marchant voted against this unconstitutional bill, and he pledges to continue his fight against the government takeover of health care by using all legislative and legal means available to repeal it.
- Congressman Marchant cosponsored the End the Mandate Act, which would repeal the individual mandate that forces all Americans to purchase government-approved health insurance.
- Congressman Marchant cosponsored the To Repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which would completely repeal ObamaCare.
- Congressman Marchant cosponsored the Protect Medical Innovation act, which would repeal the ObamaCare excise tax on medical device manufacturers and importers.
- Congressman Marchant cosponsored H.R. 4591, which would close the loophole that excludes the President, Vice President, and certain congressional staff from the health care law.
- Congressman Marchant cosponsored the Access to Insurance for All Americans Act, which would give all Americans the opportunity to obtain the same health insurance that members of Congress have.
- Congressman Marchant cosponsored H.Res.1230, commending the efforts of State legislatures, State Attorneys General, and citizens to resist the implementation of ObamaCare.
Instead of a government takeover of our health care system, Congressman Marchant believes that we should expand access to high risk consumers through risk pools and refundable, advanceable tax credits. In addition, Congressman Marchant believes that we should lower health costs for small businesses by allowing such businesses to band together to purchase insurance for their employees at lower prices, like corporations and labor unions.
Most importantly, Congressman Marchant is committed to fighting for meaningful medical liability reform. According to the American Medical Association, the cost of defensive medicine is estimated to be between $99 and $179 billion per year. And because doctors pay more for malpractice insurance, patients pay more too. For example, a recent study found that the average family pays more than $2,000 a year in extra health expenses based on the rate of defensive medicine practice today. Congressman Marchant believes it is clear that the cost of health care for all Americans would be reduced dramatically by ending junk lawsuits and enacting comprehensive medical liability reform. In Texas, the enactment of medical liability reform caused premiums to fall 21 percent, and the number of out-of-state doctor applications increased by 60 percent.
- Congressman Marchant voted for the Malpractice Liability Reform Bill (H.R. 5), which would improve patient access to health care services by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system.
- Congressman Marchant cosponsored the 10 Prescriptions for a Healthy America Act, which would prohibit the enactment of government-run health insurance, prevent the reduction of benefits for seniors under the Medicare program, prohibit an increase in the federal deficit, halt the imposition of new taxes, and strictly prohibit the rationing of medical care by the federal government.
- Congressman Marchant cosponsored the Empowering Patients First Act, which would establish pooling mechanisms for small businesses, allow individuals and families to purchase health insurance across state lines, place caps on non-economic damages, reform Medicare physician payments, and provide physician incentives such as medical school loan repayment programs to encourage individuals to enter the practice of medicine.
- Congressman Marchant cosponsored the Health Savings and Affordability Act, which would amend the tax code to improve health care access by allowing a deduction for the health insurance costs of individuals and significantly expanding health savings accounts.
- Congressman Marchant cosponsored the Patients’ Choice Act, which would transform health care in America by strengthening the relationship between the patient and the doctor by using the forces of competition and choice rather than government rationing and restriction.
- Congressman Marchant was one of the original cosponsors of House Resolution 615, which states that Members of Congress who vote in favor of the establishment of a government-run health insurance plan would forgo the right to participate in their federal health insurance plan and agree to enroll in a government-run health insurance plan.
- Congressman Marchant cosponsored House Resolution 721, which states that any major health care reform bill considered on the floor of the House should be available for viewing for 30 calendar days.
- Congressman Marchant cosponsored House Resolution 796, which states that no American should be penalized for failing to purchase government-mandated health coverage.
