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Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) released the following statement after House Democrats introduced ‘Medicare-for-All’ legislation to implement single-payer health care. 

“Make no mistake about what it means if we implement ‘Medicare-for-All’ in our country – it means single-payer, government-run health care. The proposed bill makes it clear as day that private health care would be eliminated. There are more than 150 million people nationally on employer plans, and in Ohio’s 5^th Congressional District, more than 500,000 people receive health care through their work. Under this bill, all of them would lose their current health care and be forced onto government-run health care.

“Not only would the majority of my constituents lose the health care they currently have, many would have to face drastically higher taxes at the same time. Both left-leaning and right-leaning think tanks have placed a price tag of more than $32 trillion for Medicare-for-All proposals over a ten year period. That’s the equivalent of more than $200,000 per American household. Whether it’s a drastic increase in taxes or heaping debt onto the backs of future generations, it won’t be good for our country.

“It should also be noted that Medicare-for-All would be devastating for rural America. Countless communities around our region rely on rural providers that would be under enormous financial pressure if this bill were to pass. Under this legislation, providers would see cuts of 40% in reimbursement rates for patients that they treat. Most – if not all – of our rural health care providers would be unable to keep their doors open with a drastic reduction in reimbursement. If these facilities are forced to close, it would mean residents would have to travel long distances to seek care.

“I’m a believer in health care policies that increase choice and reduce costs, and this legislation takes us in the opposite direction. I want to work with our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, but Medicare-for-All is the completely wrong approach. It would have a disastrous effect on my constituents, and I’m completely opposed to this bill.”

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