Chris Murphy: “the rapidly rising cost of health care has put quality coverage out of the reach of millions of families. Too many…”

“the rapidly rising cost of health care has put quality coverage out of the reach of millions of families. Too many cannot afford to see their doctor. Too many put off early treatment. Too many are overwhelmed by hospital bills. Too many meet a wall of bureaucracy that stands between them and their doctor. This system costs too many lives and too many dollars. Each side of the aisle has offered solutions: national health care on one side of the aisle, health savings accounts on the other. But these two plans deal with payments. Neither solves the problem of costly errors and inefficiency. Cost shifting is not cost savings. They only focus on who is paying, when we need to reform what we are paying for. Electronic medical records, electronic prescribing, eliminating hospital-borne infections, accurate dates on prescription drugs, expanding patients' care management, ending defensive medicine and allowing doctors to volunteer at community health centers are among the reforms our Nation needs. Any of us would reach out to save the life of one person. We must reform the health care system to save ten of thousands of lives and tens of billions of dollars. Members can see more information on this at www.murphy.house.gov. ____________________”