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GUEST COLUMN
March 25, 2009
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CONTACT: Adam Buckalew
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Special to The Washington Times
Health Care: My Personal Issues
WASHINGTON, DC – Over the past several years, the federal government has consistently addressed America’s health concerns. I commend Congress for continuing its pursuit in improving access to quality, affordable health insurance. While I understand the constant struggles in acquiring and retaining health insurance, one struggle is closer to my family than others and I have taken an active role in examining this issue.
I want to tell you about my 19-year-old son, Livingston. Early in his life, my wife Sidney, and I noticed he was slow to walk, talk, and reach other developmental milestones. He would sometimes flap his hands, rock back and forth, or chew on objects. We were told not to be concerned; that he was ‘developmentally delayed’ and that he would grow out of it.
Finally, at about 19-months of age, our doctor told us that something was wrong; that he didn’t know what it was but that we’d start looking. The next two years of Livingston’s life were filled with occupational therapy, speech therapy, testing, more visits to the doctor, and other hospitals. Sidney dealt with these issues daily.
Livingston was misdiagnosed with mild cerebral palsy and was said to be ‘a near miss’ on autism. Almost two years later, thanks to our next-door neighbor, who was the head of Special Education for our county school system, Livingston was tested and found to have Fragile X Syndrome. Since that time, we’ve taken him to hospitals in Denver and Sacramento to learn as much as we can. Today, we know that Fragile X Syndrome is the most common cause of inherited intellectual disability, resulting in a wide range of mental and physical impairment.
For our family, Fragile X has become a lifelong labor of love and daily blessings. With diploma in hand, Livingston graduated from Pearl High School last May. In fact, Livingston is now enrolled at a local community college, taking two classes and working at a local restaurant. Though his future is uncertain, with help and the prayers of many friends, our hope is that his life will be rich and rewarding. Ours already is. We thank God for Livingston everyday.
As the only member of Congress who has a child with Fragile X, I understand the challenges that face thousands of families who experience this condition. Sidney and I are committed to making sure there is increased awareness and funding to help those families who are blessed with a child with Fragile X.
Congressman Phil Hare (D-Ill.) has championed this issue on Capitol Hill for the past several years, and I want to thank him for his support of Fragile X families across the country. This year, Congressman Hare, Congressman William “Bill” Delahunt (D-Mass.), and I will be working together on this issue. As co-chairmen of the Fragile X Caucus, we will work closely with the National Fragile X Foundation and other Members of Congress in support of additional federal funding for the treatment and ultimately a cure of Fragile X-associated disorders. My goal is to contribute substantially towards increasing public awareness of Fragile X disorders and letting Fragile X families across the country know that they are not alone in this journey.
One of the more difficult times for our family was the eight years Livingston was not covered on our health insurance. The financial sacrifices Sidney and I made during this time period were challenging and we understand that many families currently face this economic burden.
While quality, affordable health insurance is on the minds of all Americans, I have several concerns with many proposals before Congress. During President Obama’s campaign, he promised his health plan would reduce American families’ health care costs by $2,500 per year. Yet judging from his first budget, President Obama finds a peculiar way to reduce costs – by increasing government spending.
President Obama’s budget proposal includes nearly $1 trillion in new health care spending, a $634 billion reserve fund as a “down payment” for expanded coverage funded mostly through tax increases, and nearly $330 billion in increased reimbursements to physicians and other government programs. The fund would be paid for in part through $318 billion in tax increases on filers who itemize, “competitive bidding” for Medicare Advantage plans, and tighter government price controls on pharmaceutical makers.
Republicans do not believe more spending will control the costs. At a time when government actuaries project that health spending will jump from 16.6% to 17.6% of GDP this year alone, the President’s plan proposes an additional $1 trillion in expenses on top of the spending included in the already enacted stimulus bill. Additionally, more government spending means more government control. Administration officials confirmed they will seek legislative authority to impose a least costly alternative reimbursement policy for Medicare – a policy of rationing access to care consistent with a draft House Committee report saying that more expensive treatments will no longer be prescribed as the result of research into the effectiveness of various treatments.
I support efforts to reduce health care costs for small businesses and promote entrepreneurship such as H.R. 1470, the Equity for Our Nation’s Self-Employed Act. This bill would allow self-employed individuals to deduct the cost of their health insurance premiums as a business expense from their taxes so they can reinvest and grow their businesses.
I am also seeking continuity in coverage for children through state risk pools. Far too often, children who suffer from chronic illnesses are denied coverage due to their pre-existing conditions if their parents lose health insurance.
Republicans are willing to find constructive solutions with our Democratic colleagues. However, the current budget proposal has far too much spending in the short term and could result in government-rationed care as the only way to reduce health care costs in the long term. We can do better.
