Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, health savings accounts have been shown to lower health care costs and allow Americans to have more control over their money and their health care decisions. Recently the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 14 percent of all workers in the private sector now have access to a health savings account. The number of people with HSA-type accounts rose to over 11\1/ 2\ million in January, up from 10 million a year before and 8 million the year before that. But, Mr. Speaker, health savings accounts are at risk. Under the Affordable Care Act passed in this House of March of 2010, by 2014 there will be a phase-in of what's known as the medical loss ratio rules that may eliminate the ability of HSAs to continue to exist. It's all in the hands of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, who, in the past, has not been favorably disposed to HSAs. Now, Governor Mitch Daniels understands the power of consumer- directed health care. Governor Daniels, when he came and talked to our Health Caucus a little over a year ago, talked about his Healthy Indiana plan, a plan that in his State has allowed him to provide for his State workers health care benefits that receive a positive approval rating by 94 percent of his workers and, at the same time, lowering costs by 11 percent. This is the type of innovation that the Affordable Care Act should have fostered. Instead, it stands in the way of this groundbreaking way to deliver health care to our Nation's folks.…”