Susan Collins: “this week marks the 2-year anniversary of the signing into law of President Obama's health care bill. There was no…”

“this week marks the 2-year anniversary of the signing into law of President Obama's health care bill. There was no question that our health care system required substantial reform. In passing this law, however, Congress failed to follow the Hippocratic oath, ``first do no harm.'' The new law increases health care costs, hurts our seniors and health care providers, and imposes billions of dollars in new taxes, fees, and penalties. This will lead to fewer choices and higher insurance costs for many middle-income Americans and most small businesses--the opposite of what real health care reform should do. I find it particularly disturbing that President Obama's health care law does not do enough to rein in the cost of health care and provide consumers with more affordable choices. In fact, Medicare's Chief Actuary estimates that the law will increase health spending across the economy by $311 billion, and the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says the law will actually increase premiums for an average family plan by $2,100. Moreover, a recent report issued by the CBO found that the new law will cost $1.76 trillion between now and 2022. That is twice as much as the bill's original 10-year price tag of $940 billion. The new law also means fewer choices for many middle-income Americans and small businesses. All individual and small group policies sold in the United States will soon have to fit into one of four categories. One size simply does not fit all.…”