GOP 'Pledge' Includes Vow to Repeal Reform Law

Sept. 25, 2010— -- WASHINGTON -- The "Pledge to America" unveiled by congressional Republicans on Thursday includes a vow to "repeal and replace" the healthcare reform law signed six months ago by President Obama.

The American people "don't want the $500 billion in their taxes and the over 150 boards, bureaucracies, and commissions required to implement this," Rep. Bill Cassidy, MD (R-La.) said at a press conference held by GOP congressional leaders. "What the American people told us they want is that we defund, repeal, and replace" the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which was signed by President Obama on March 23.

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Republicans included the following healthcare-related items in the 21-page "pledge" document:

Repeal the Affordable Care Act. "Because the new healthcare law kills jobs, raises taxes, and increases the cost of healthcare, we will immediately take action to repeal this law," the document says.

Enact Medical Liability Reform. "Skyrocketing medical liability insurance rates have distorted the practice of medicine, routinely forcing doctors to order costly and often unnecessary tests to protect themselves from lawsuits," the document notes. The authors say they plan to "enact common-sense medical liability reforms to lower costs, rein in junk lawsuits, and curb defensive medicine."

Purchase Health Insurance Across State Lines. The document reads, "Americans residing in a state with expensive health insurance plans are locked into those plans and do not currently have an opportunity to choose a lower cost option that best meets their needs. We will allow individuals to buy healthcare coverage outside of the state in which they live."

Expand Health Savings Accounts. The GOP plan touts health savings accounts (HSAs) as "popular savings accounts that provide cost-effective health insurance to those who might otherwise go uninsured." The Republicans pledge to "improve HSAs by making it easier for patients with high-deductible health plans to use them to obtain access to quality care" but do not offer further specifics. They note that the ACA bars patients from using HSAs to buy over-the-counter medicines.