A Healthy Alternative?

" The GOP is hammered the house democrats' health care bill and critics have fired back Republicans. Yes give a better idea. -- house Republicans say they look if -- released the Republican health care reform bill. So let's go about Republican congressman Mike Pence joins us today -- Gaining -- so what is the Republican net health -- of what health care reform bill and has -- different than what the Democrats are proposing."

" Well that the Democrat bill all 1990. Pages of it with hundreds of billions of dollars in taxes and mandates and bureaucracy -- really we believe -- a government takeover of health care that's driving toward their goal of what they call universal. Coverage Republicans believe we've listened to the American people and heard that the real concern among the American people. Is the cost of health insurance so the bill that's. Online today. There's a one sheet version of -- you can read all. 219 pages Greta what we do is we allow people to purchase health insurance across state lines we allow groups. Of employers to purchase health insurance on a nationwide basis the way the big corporations can. We passed medical malpractice reform. Two lower the cost of health care and defensive medicine and junk lawsuits and then we use those savings. To strengthen those insurance funds at the state level that will cover preexisting conditions for Americans. And so it's -- RR bill is intended to lower the cost. Of health insurance rather than growing the size of government we think it's gonna resonate with millions of Americans."

" we start first of the medical. Not practice. Reform. Right in your particular bill are you -- likewise. Limit teen at the legal fees on both the plaintiffs' lawyers and the defense lawyers biggest. I don't think there's any possible way that you can't true reform onto but the lid on both typically -- put on one side do you put on both. Besides."

" Well we're talking in the bill you can you can look at the details with your extensive legal background. We're talking in the bill about capping. Punitive damages when you look at these massive jury awards in medical malpractice cases. The hundreds of millions of dollars in punitive damages that's what's driving up people's health insurance premiums. And the doctors I talked to back in Indiana tell me. That it's it's essentially the fear of litigation that causes many doctors to prescribe you know. More tests and more treatments than they believe are absolutely necessary it's called defensive. -- so yes we're advocating those kind of caps Greta but but it's all we believe a part of a long term strategy to lower the cost of health care. Lower the cost of health insurance and again use those savings to cover preexisting conditions in the state funds that exists today."

" My guess is so the punitive damages that spears doctor's name -- defensive met in the defensive medicine as a result. But that in reality that -- punitive damages are rarely awarded that the bigger problem. Is in in some ways is that the inability of the two sides have really look at a problem and -- to be resolved. And and I really think that if you if you do any reform we gotta put the cap -- lawyers are both sides so you make them sit down and evaluate fairly a stop scaring the doctors."

" Well you know it's a terrific point and it's one of the deficiencies of the Pelosi health care bill Greta is that. They actually make reference to medical malpractice reform they create some state grants. But then they rule out states like Indiana or California that already have caps. In medical malpractice cases and it really it really works a hardship -- states that have tried to bring about reasonable. Litigation reform in the area above the practice of medicine and so. -- they just talk a little about it they not bad at this one of the centerpieces of the Republican alternative which you can read all about it health -- dot GOP dot gov. Is that medical malpractice reform along with letting people purchase insurance all across this country."

" I -- what -- what's your cost. And."

" Well as as I stand here with you right now I'm not sure this CBO cost. Is yet album will be talking about that I think it's gonna be. A very pleasant surprise for Americans that are are troubled about this one point three trillion dollar. Government takeover that the Democrats are moving through the house I think the CBO numbers going to be. Rather impressive and I I won't preempt that all at the Congressional Budget Office. Describe that for you but but your second question was again. How many people and expect to be covered how many more people with your -- out. Right thank you for that you know that the Democrats are trying to get at. This business of universal coverage through mandates through bureaucracies through taxing people that don't purchase health insurance. And and creating a new government run insurance plan we believe you get at the coverage issue. By lowering the cost of health insurance I don't know too many small business owners back in Indiana. The don't want to offer health insurance for their employees. They just can't afford it so Republicans by focusing on the cost of health insurance. Believe that we are going to take our country in the direction where. Where we also deal -- the tens of millions of people that that and employers that struggle with providing insurance."

" I didn't novel idea have you marched your Billups to speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi to have her take a look at she may sees things -- she finds appealing Mary you might find some of her ideas of cannot be done can -- you can you talk a little bit of between the two sides."

" You know members of congress -- what it looks like on television actually talk across the -- All the time in I believe it would be possible. For us to move in the direction. Of the kind of the health care reform that Republicans are talking about I think senator Ron -- over here at on the Senate side actually has a bill that allows people. To purchase health insurance across state lines. But it all gonna have to begin with stopping this freight train. Of big government that is the policy health care bill we've got to stop this bill in its tracks. Then I think the conversations. Can begin and we can begin to work together in a way. That on an incremental basis pursues the kind of reforms -- really lower the cost of health insurance. For the American people without permanently growing the size of government I think thank you --"

" here's something you viewers might not now not every Democrat supports a democratic house health care bill. -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have trouble -- her own party democratic congressman Gene Taylor a blue dog Democrat opposes a democratic health care bill. -- Taylor joins as good -- parents -- and what's your -- for their party's bill."

" Well Greta I not -- beef is that the nation you know just nine years ago was about five -- George Bush led us to with the Republican congress doubled the national debt in fares the Obama. Administration and congress have made it even worse and so as we bump up against a twelve trillion dollar national debt. With obligations to our military retirees to our veterans to people already -- Medicare people on Medicaid. I just don't think a nation needs to be making any new promises when we're having a -- enough time keeping your promises the nation's sort of made."

" You must be a very unpopular guy in your pockets."

" I don't -- take a lot of people. Know that I'm I'm saying what what I'm saying is the truth and that. -- there are some things we ought to be doing number one we can -- Ferguson and get real competition in the insurance industry has something that would save everyone some money. Oh we -- repeal the so called toes in language -- on the Medicare -- parred the actually keeps our nation from using our huge purchasing power from getting a better price -- those prescription Johnson. Through that Medicare prescription drug benefit plan. And then lastly we can we for those things -- nation -- Could do a better job of using generics. Typically generic is about 110 the cost of the name brand product. So whenever -- think it makes sense for the patients were ordered by generics and right now about two thirds of what Medicare -- all. Or generic cities has a third that her name brands they -- could save some money there same thing for Medicaid. Same thing for the VA hospital system both of those systems only about half of what -- generics and again I think. -- we ought to be all about. -- saying how could save some money for the taxpayers while we provided good service."

" Harassment in -- seventy democratic bill I imagine that the men. The majority of your party in congress must come to -- twist your armed into having a very different viewpoint on this. Does that happen behind the scenes you can somebody -- phone calls -- people knocking on your doors are ready get bad vibe to mean what isn't."

" Number I've been been fortunate to do this morning years now. And people know want to say I'm gonna do something else produce -- really have not been lobbied by the house leadership. Effect been spending a lot of my talent my fellow members who have kind of more -- look. We don't need this we can't afford this -- think it through its let's do some. -- some bullets that make the system better rather than this this shotgun approach that. This business defense pointed out is sneaking up on 2000 pages that very few people fully comprehend."

" Does that mean that do you -- your choice you would vote for the congressman Mike Pence Republican version of the bill and not the democratic you have. -- congress bill -- of being the house."

" Download -- one Mikey -- a given read the 72 hours they keep talking about to read his bill. So we'll start with that brought a pointed out some things that he -- violent people buy insurance across state lives are saved repealed the insurance industry's antitrust exemption. They're one of only two businesses in America that exempt from the antitrust laws everyone else has to compete they should have to compete. No one else is in position to call each other up and say hey let's raise our prices let's cut -- services they should be able to -- that's that's a common sense thing we ought to be doing. That'll help homeowners in Mississippi get better -- homeowners policies on their car insurance and on the health insurance. The other two things is we can save a lot of money on those pharmaceutical drugs that we've already promising again. Already about 46 cents out of every health care dollars. -- is taxpayer money most -- federal money. But that's as it is a substantial contribution to as a health care for Americans and with a nation that is twelve trillion dollars in debt. Would you set to be very very judicious with new promises -- nation next Catherine thank you -- Thank you."