Rep. Matt Baker (R-Bradford/Tioga), Republican chairman of the House Health and Human Services Committee, today was among more than 40 legislators across the country who signed a letter sent to President Barack Obama requesting him to consider input by state lawmakers in the national health care debate.

The letter was sent to Obama the day before he is to host a bipartisan summit of a small, select group of lawmakers at Blair House in Washington, D.C.

“I signed onto this letter because I think it is important that the president understand the contributions that could be obtained if those in Washington looked outside their inner circle and took cues from some of the innovative, creative and, often, practical health care reforms and solutions being considered in various states,” said Baker. “Here in Pennsylvania, we created a House Republican Health Care Task Force several years ago that researched the issue and has proposed several new health care initiatives designed to lower the cost of health care for all Pennsylvanians and expand access to health care for the uninsured through sensible and resourceful measures.”

Baker is also the author of legislation (House Bill 2053) known as the “Health Care Freedom Act,” which would uphold state’s rights to not mandate enrollment in a government-run health care plan, as is currently being proposed by Obama. Baker’s legislation would preserve the doctor-patient relationship to make health care decisions, as well as individual rights to pay directly for health care services and insurance. Baker opposes the Obama plan that forces citizens and businesses to buy expensive mandated health insurance or face fines, penalties or imprisonment.

“Pennsylvania is not alone is seeking ways to opt out of a federal health care mandate, more than 35 other states have already or are in the process of introducing similar legislation. This should serve as a wake-up call to Obama that while most citizens across the United States do see health care access and affordability as a problem, they want solutions that don’t include a federal takeover of one-sixth of our economy,” said Baker. “That is where various states have already done a great deal of work and could be a real asset to those working on health care reform in Washington.”

Some of the reforms in Pennsylvania offered by the House Republican Policy Committee’s Health Care Task Force would provide tax credits to employers and individuals to help offset the costs of health insurance, enhance Health Savings Accounts, invest in health clinics, provide access to dental care in communities with a need and require the use of e-prescribing to lower costs.

For more information on the House Republican Policy Committee’s Health Care Task Force, please visit healthcareforpafamilies.com.

“I am hopeful President Obama will reconsider his position on the health care reform front and work with us to seek out better alternatives to making sure everyone, here in Pennsylvania and across the nation, have access to quality and affordable health care,” said Baker.

Read the letter being sent to Obama here.

Rep. Matthew Baker
68th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(570) 724-1390
(717) 772-5371

www.RepBaker.com

Contact:  Tricia Lehman

House Republican Public Relations

(717) 772-9840

www.pahousegop.com