Phil Gingrey: “I thank Mr. Boustany so much for being with us this evening and for pointing out the rising cost of health care and what…”

“I thank Mr. Boustany so much for being with us this evening and for pointing out the rising cost of health care and what we need to do about it. I particularly appreciate what you said about transparency. In the final few minutes, I am going to talk a little bit about the health savings accounts that the President has promoted and increased the amount of money that can be put aside, very much like an IRA, but this would be an IRA for health care. Because you are absolutely right; we use the expression, and maybe it is really apropos for health care, skinning the game. They are going to be better consumers. People do a great job shopping for an automobile or an appliance or new flat-screen television set, and they may go to eight different stores, discount big box stores, trying to save an extra fifty bucks on a plasma TV. And people do that, and I do not blame them. We can do that in health care, too. I think Mr. Boustany is absolutely right. There will be a day when we do have electronic medical records throughout the system. Secretary Leavitt is totally committed to this, and Dr. Brailer, as our good friend Mr.…”