Larry Bucshon: “Thank you, Dr. Roe, for yielding. I was a cardiothoracic surgeon just recently, last year, prior to coming to Congress.…”

“Thank you, Dr. Roe, for yielding. I was a cardiothoracic surgeon just recently, last year, prior to coming to Congress. I helped patients and their families make informed decisions regarding the care they needed or the care their loved ones needed. I provided a professional opinion based on the facts and sometimes had to convey information and news to patients and their families that they didn't want to hear. Mr. Speaker, I came here to tell the American people the truth that sometimes can be difficult to hear, but the American people deserve the truth about what's happening with health care in this country. The majority of my patients were Medicare patients. We know that Medicare is one of the main drivers of our long-term systemic debt. I want to reiterate that on May 13 the Medicare Board of Trustees released their annual report on the program's financial status. In it, the Medicare Trustees stated that the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund will become insolvent in 2024. That's within 13 years, Mr. Speaker, 5 years sooner than last year was predicted. And from a physician's standpoint, according to the American Medical Association, one in three primary care doctors is currently limiting Medicare patients in their practice, and one in eight physicians is forced to refuse Medicare patients altogether due to the cuts already that have been made in the Medicare program.…”