photo by Flickr user comestarmoon, licensed under Creative Commons
Expressing strong concerns about health reform’s negative impact on health costs and people’s ability to choose health care options, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., set a July 11 date for the House of Representatives to vote on legislation that would repeal the health care reform law.
He said health reform is precluding people from having the health coverage of their choice, the country is moving to a system in which the government controls health care, and the reform law increases costs. The Republican House leadership is committed to changing those things, Cantor said at a news briefing June 28, the day the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the statute.
“We’re saying we’ve got to bring down costs so health care can be more affordable and accessible for more people. That’s where this entire process went awry; when the conversation switched from trying to control costs and it went totally to coverage. Now we have a system that we’re not going to be able to afford,” Cantor said.
Last year, in a near party-line vote, the House approved legislation sponsored by Cantor repealing the health reform law. That time, the Democrat-controlled Senate would not take up the bill, or vote on it. So this time, even if the Republican House measure passes, it has little or no chance of advancing.
See this story on employer compliance issues as implementation proceeds. Here is more information on the Thompson Publishing’s question-and-answer guide to implementing health reform for employers.