|
Contact: McCall Cameron
(202) 225-4201
|
|
|
Sam Johnson introduces legislation to repeal red tape and regulation for seniors
Washington,
Feb 10, 2005 -
Today U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (3rd Dist.-Texas) reintroduced legislation to empower seniors who want to pay for their own health care. Under current law, seniors are prohibited from seeing their own doctor and paying for services they want or need.
“The law prohibiting seniors from paying for medical care out of their own pocket is a shining example of government over-regulation at its WORST,” exclaimed Johnson. “This wacky law just makes no sense. If a senior wants to pay out of his pocket to visit his doctor, he should have that right. This common-sense bill empowers seniors to get the care they want, when they want, from whom they want,” said Johnson.
The Medicare Beneficiary Freedom to Contract Act of 2005 repeals the current law that forbids seniors from seeing doctors outside of the Medicare system. Now, if a doctor chooses to see a senior outside of the system, that doctor must refrain from receiving payments from Medicare for two years. In addition, the doctor must deal with enormous bureaucratic burdens. Because almost all doctors treat Medicare patients, very few of them would be willing to give up this part of their practice for a small number of private clients.
Johnson advocates people getting the care they need, when they need it, not when Medicare mandates. “Seniors routinely tell me that they should be able to pay for their own medical care out of pocket if they want to. But the law won’t let them! It’s up to Congress to change that,” said Johnson.
“If people want to pay for their own medical care, let them. The federal government shouldn’t have to pick up the tab just because of an over-zealous law,” said Johnson.
Johnson re-introduced the legislation the day before the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health will hear from doctors about their Medicare payments under current law.
|
Print version of this document
|
