Phil Roe RSS Articles

Keeping a Promise This Memorial Day

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Earlier this week, deadly tornadoes ripped through the Midwest. The great state of Oklahoma was hit hardest, and I want Oklahomans to know that I speak for the entire state of Tennessee when I say that our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. Unfortunately, Tennesseans are no stranger to dangerous storms and we will be as much of a resource as we can while you work to rebuild. Oklahomans are resilient and I truly believe that, with the support of a nation, you’ll come out even stronger than before.

On Monday, we honor our nation’s greatest heroes on Memorial Day. Families, communities and churches across the country will come together to hold ceremonies to honor those that have given their lives in the name of freedom. I hope that this Memorial Day, as a nation nearing the end of a long, hard war, we’ll take a moment to remember the servicemembers that have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. There are over 1.6 million returning veterans that served in Iraq and Afghanistan from 2002-2012. These men and women deserve our utmost respect and deepest gratitude. We honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and given their lives for our country, but we also keep our veterans and active duty military in our prayers. Many of them fought alongside the fallen and all have made their own sacrifice through their service.

Men and women who serve this country, both past and present, deserve a seamless transition back to civilian life when their service is over. Earlier this year, there were over 900,000 veterans waiting for their disability claims to be processed. This has gone on for far too long. Earlier this week, I introduced H.R. 2055, the Integrated Electronic Health Records (iEHR) for Military and Veterans Act. This bipartisan legislation would remedy this backlog by incentivizing the development of an electronic records system that would work for both the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This will ensure our military and veterans receive the world class care they deserve and prevent our veterans from having to face a backlog like this again. We’ve made a promise to these men and women and it’s time we deliver. My bill will start this process.

H.R. 2055 will create a public-private partnership for development of an integrated electronic health record system for our military and veterans. This bill would utilize private American innovation to finally deliver on an iEHR system. This system would enhance the transfer of medical records between the DoD and the VA to help streamline the coordination of care and benefits claims for those that have served.

Already, the DoD and VA have spent more than $1 billion taxpayer dollars on the development of an in-house system, but announced in February that these efforts have been put on hold. The Interagency Program Office, specifically created for iEHR development, spent approximately $362 million in FY2013 alone. I was pleased that today, DoD Secretary Chuck Hagel made a decision on the Pentagon’s new electronic health record system and I look forward to hearing more details from both he and VA Secretary Eric Shinseki.

This Memorial Day, let us put our political differences aside and come together to remember and thank those that have served this great country.

Please feel free to contact my office if we can be of assistance to you or your family.

Roe Introduces Legislation to Fulfill Health Records Promise to Veterans, Military

Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-TN) introduced the Integrated Electronic Health Records for Military and Veterans Act, legislation to create a public-private partnership for development of an integrated electronic health record system for our military and veterans. This bill would utilize private American innovation to finally deliver on an integrated electronic health records (iEHR) system. This system would enhance the transfer of medical records between the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help streamline the coordination of care and benefits claims for those that have served.

Roe released the following statement on the bill:

“Men and women that serve this country, both past and present, deserve a seamless transition back to civilian life when their service is over. Earlier this year, there were over 900,000 veterans waiting for their disability claims to be processed. This has gone on for far too long and this legislation would improve communication between the DOD and VA to remedy this backlog, ensure our military and veterans receive the world class care they deserve and prevent our veterans from having to face a backlog like this again. We’ve made a promise to these men and women and it’s time we deliver. My bill will start this process.”

The legislation has been endorsed by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA). Tom Tarantino, Chief Policy Officer at IAVA said:

"For years VA and DoD have both expressed their desired goal of creating an integrated electronic health records system but earlier this year announced the effort to do so would be dropped, after costing taxpayers nearly $1billion. The Integrated Electronic Health Records for Military Veterans Act is an opportunity for the sharpest and most innovative minds to produce an electronic health records system that will benefit the bravest Americans. With nearly 600,000 veterans stuck in the backlog, now is the time to formulate solutions that can best serve those who defended this nation so honorably."

A copy of IAVA’s endorsement letter can be found here.

Background: The Integrated Electronic Health Records for Military and Veterans Act would establish a competition for non-governmental, American-based entities to develop an iEHR for use by the DOD and VA. These agencies have spent more than $1 billion taxpayer dollars on the development of an in-house system, but announced in February that these efforts have been put on hold. The bill would create a temporary panel, chosen by the Secretaries of Defense and Veterans Affairs, to develop criteria for an ideal iEHR. The panel will have 90 days to establish these criteria. The winner of the contract will receive a lump sun of $50 million and the cost of contacting and implementation will be $25 million per year over a period of five years. The DoD and VA have already spent more than $1 billion in their efforts to develop this system, meaning the savings potential for this legislation is substantial. The Interagency Program Office, specifically created for iEHR development, spent approximately $362 million in FY2013 alone.

We Need Answers

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

In a White House memo, President Obama stated that his administration was “committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in government.” To achieve the consent of the governed, government must be transparent, participatory and collaborative. Unfortunately, over the last couple weeks, the president’s failure to meet this standard has been exposed across a wide array of government agencies. The IRS has been exposed for targeting right-leaning groups, the State Department has yet to come clean on Benghazi and a cabinet secretary is spending her time shaking down the private sector to support Obamacare, just to name a few. This is outrageous, unacceptable and I vow to work tirelessly to expose and remedy these wrongdoings. I will not tolerate this Chicago-style corruption.

Last week, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was exposed for having targeted conservative groups seeking tax-exempt 501(c)(4) status for extra and unwarranted scrutiny during their application. So far, we know the bias dates back as far as 2011, and senior officials at the IRS have confirmed they were aware this targeting was occurring. This should shake the confidence of every American, Republican or Democrat. If those who are privy to the most intimate details about our lives, as the IRS is, are allowed to decide who to subject to extra scrutiny simply on the basis of their political persuasion, it will forever destroy the trust of the American people. Several Congressional committees have started investigations and the Department of Justice has indicated it has opened a criminal probe into the wrongdoing. We must punish those who allowed this targeting to occur to the fullest extent possible to ensure this never happens again. Political witch hunts will never be tolerated in this country.

It is also just as disturbing the president claims to have first heard of this situation through a news report. If people in his administration believe they can protect him by withholding information about these wrongdoings, I strongly suggest he get new advisers who will make the transparency he claims to promote their top priority. Unfortunately, the administration’s self-serving, political agenda doesn’t stop there.

Last September, four American patriots, including U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, were killed during a terrorist attack on an American consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Just last week, a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing uncovered many inconsistencies in the administration’s account of what happened. Part of our responsibility to those who lost their lives is to work to answer the hard questions that still remain about what happened that night in Benghazi.

Our government failed these four men. While the cost of their lives can never be repaid, the president and the State Department have a responsibility to truthfully explain to the American people what they knew before the attacks, why more wasn’t done to secure our personnel, and what we have learned to help ensure a tragedy like this never occurs again. So far, the response and information from the administration has been less than forthcoming: first refusing to say that what occurred was a terrorist attack, then giving differing accounts of what and to whom additional security was requested. We now know that folks ready to assist were told to stand-down and that witnesses were told not to speak to members of the House conducting investigations. This is unacceptable.

My request to the Administration is simple and straightforward: keep your promise of transparency and tell the American people the truth. What did we know about the threat? What resources were in the area on the night of September 11, 2012 and why weren't they deployed? At what point did the president and State Department know about this attack? When were requests for reinforcements received? Why were those requests denied and who authorized their denial? Were talking points scrubbed by the administration? If so, why? The families of the four Americans who perished – and the American people – deserve answers. And I will continue to search for these answers.

Almost lost in these other stories was news that Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has asked healthcare executives and charitable groups for donations to nonprofits that are helping to implement Obamacare because the HHS lacks sufficient taxpayer resources to implement this flawed law. Tennessee’s own Senator Lamar Alexander was right to ask for an investigation of the legality of this fundraising. Whether the fundraising is legal or not, however, it is troubling to see a Cabinet Secretary requesting donations from groups she could potentially oversee. This is not the behavior the American people expect out of their elected officials, we won’t tolerate it and it must change.

During these tough economic times, it’s very unfortunate that the ineptitude and deceitfulness of President Obama’s administration is a distraction. The Obama administration should be trying to get Americans back to work and put our fiscal house back in order, not using official resources to engage in partisan politicking. This is shameful, and it’s not the transparency we were promised. Please rest assured that I will continue to fight to uncover the truth.

Please feel free to contact my office if we can be of assistance to you or your family.

Roe Votes To Repeal Obamacare

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-TN) released the following statement on H.R. 45, legislation to repeal President Obama’s health care law:

“I came to this body 4 ½ years ago understanding that the greatest problems with the American health care system were cost and access. I knew this because I practiced medicine in East Tennessee for 31 years. I had also been involved with health care reform in Tennessee, beginning in 1993, with our attempt to reform Medicaid. It was called TennCare. Because of this, I knew what not to do.

“We need health care reform in this country, but we need patient-centered health care reform where patients, their families and their physicians make health care decisions- not government bureaucrats or insurance companies. Health care should not be a partisan issue. I have never in my life seen a Republican or Democrat heart attack.

“What were the main promises made during the health care debate? Your insurance premiums would go down, jobs would be created and access would be expanded. What really happened? Insurance premiums have sky-rocketed, as much as 100 percent. We’re looking at tax increase for individuals, taxes on productive companies and taxes on life-saving medical device companies- 21 total.

“Small business owners are being forced to cut hours, delay investments and stop hiring just to stay afloat. This comes at a time when families need more income to make ends meet, not less hours to work and higher insurance premiums. Are patients getting lower costs? No. And maybe the biggest insult of all: the IRS will determine if your insurance coverage is adequate.

“I stand ready to repeal this flawed bill and work with my Democrat colleagues on health care reform that will truly work for the American people.”

Note: Rep. Roe made this statement on the House floor. A link to the video can be found here.

Roe Statement on Gosnell Verdict

Mon, 13 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-TN) released the following statement on the verdict in the murder trial of abortionist Kermit Gosnell:

“As someone who spent more than thirty years as an OB/GYN, delivering more than 5,000 babies, I am appalled and sickened by the heinous acts committed by Kermit Gosnell. His repugnant crimes are a slap in the face to anyone that has ever cared for patients. While nothing can bring back these precious lives lost, I am pleased to see that justice will be served. We must protect the lives of the innocent and fight for the miracle of life, and I will continue to strongly condemn abortion in any form.”

Roe Applauds Speaker Boehner, Leader McConnell on IPAB Efforts

Thu, 09 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-TN) applauded House Speaker Boehner (R-OH) and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on the letter sent to President Obama regarding the IPAB:

“The IPAB is one of the worst, most concerning parts of Obamacare, and I thank Speaker Boehner and Leader McConnell for standing with me to lead the fight to stop this unelected, unaccountable bureaucracy from denying our seniors health care. Next week, the House will vote again to totally repeal this flawed law, and I am hopeful that President Obama will finally show leadership and start over with real, bipartisan health care reform that will work for all Americans, including seniors.”

I’m Still Waiting, Mr. President

Wed, 08 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Last week I joined my colleague Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) to host a field hearing in Concord, North Carolina. The hearing, titled “Health Care Challenges Facing North Carolina’s Workers and Job Creators,” examined how President Obama’s health care law will affect small businesses. Currently, around 160 million Americans receive health insurance through their employer. As you may know, Obamacare requires businesses with 50 or more full-time employees to provide government-approved insurance to their employees or they will be forced to pay a penalty. The law goes on to define a full-time employee as someone who works 30 or more hours each week. With nearly 12 million Americans out of work, it is becoming more and more clear that we can’t afford this law – in part because it inhibits job creators’ ability to run their businesses.

Of the 12 million unemployed, 4.5 million men and women have been out of work for more than 6 months. Similarly, the number of Americans in the workforce is at its lowest level in 34 years. This should be a call to action to empower job creators and encourage economic growth, but the president’s health care law will only discourage them. For example, Ken Conrad, who owns Libby Hill Seafood in Greensboro, NC, testified at our hearing that he employs 32 full-time employees and 109 part-time employees based on the new definition of what is a full time employee under the health care law. Ken offers full medical benefits and pays 80 percent of the premiums, but only ten employees opt into the coverage. Ken’s business is now close to being considered a large employer under the law, which leaves him with tremendous uncertainty. In his testimony, Mr. Conrad asked a great question: will small employers who continue to grow and create jobs actually be penalized for that growth? It’s possible that on December 31, 2014, for example, he wouldn’t be required to offer coverage and a day later on January 1, 2015, the opposite could hold true.

Until this and several other questions surrounding the law’s implementation are answered, employers could possibly hold off on expanding their businesses or hiring new employees. This is unacceptable, and the restaurant industry isn’t the only one suffering. We heard from a representative in the electronics industry, a textile business owner that’s been in business for 66 years, the director of a justice center, the supermarket industry and a community college. After last week’s hearing it’s even clearer that this law has far-reaching effects, and the American people deserve better.

On July 29, 2009, I sent a letter to President Obama after he said he’d go over the health care bill “line-by-line” with any member of Congress that had concerns. That same day, then-White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said he would forward the letter to scheduling and “get it done.” As a physician practicing in a state with its own government-run health insurance, TennCare, I felt I could offer some valuable feedback during the debate. I reached out to the president again on September 18, as well as on December 10, 2009. To date, the president has not offered to sit down and meet. After Senator Max Baucus, a Democrat senator from Montana, stated in a Senate Finance Committee hearing that implementing the president’s law would be a “train wreck,” it occurs to me that President Obama would be in a much better position had he kept his promise of an open, honest debate. My offer to meet still stands.

Obamacare will forever change the way we deliver health care in this country, but please rest assured I will continue to fight for a better solution that actually addresses the exploding cost of health insurance. The president could show real leadership by acknowledging the flaws in his plan, allowing Congress to repeal this unpopular health care law and start over, and engaging both parties to actually solve the real problems in our health care system. I stand ready to meet at his convenience.

Please feel free to contact my office if we can be of assistance to you or your family.

GOP Doctors Discuss the Obamacare “Train Wreck”

Wed, 08 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Today Doctors Caucus co-chairs, Rep. Phil Gingrey, M.D., (GA-11) and Rep. Phil Roe, M.D., (TN-1), led House Republicans in a special order to discuss the Obamacare “train wreck.” Reps. Andy Harris, M.D., (MD-1), John Fleming, M.D., (LA-4), Larry Bucshon, M.D., (IN-8), Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M., (OH-2) and Glenn “G.T.” Thompson, (PA-5), also participated in the special order.

Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (TN-01): “Why do our lower income patients deserve different care than someone with a higher income? They don’t. They should get the same care and deserve the same care that anyone else has. The president said he’d go over the health care law with us line-by-line, and maybe the president should have taken us up on our invitation to sit down with the Doctors Caucus. We came here in a totally non-partisan way because health care should not be a partisan issue. We’ve all taken care of numerous patients and don’t know whether they’re Republicans or Democrats and could care less. They’re just patients who need care. Obamacare is not the answer.”

Rep. Phil Gingrey, M.D. (GA-11): “With Obamacare’s bureaucratic government takeover of over one-sixth of the American economy, it’s no wonder we continue to slide down the path of fiscal insolvency. This law and the disastrous amount of rulemaking power it gives to HHS is unaffordable for patients, physicians, and private businesses alike. The longer we allow its implementation to take the form of a ‘train wreck,’ the more patients will go without care due to the uncertainty it creates.”

Rep. Larry Buschon, M.D. (IN-08): “Obamacare is bad for patients, bad for businesses, and overall it’s bad for our nation’s healthcare system. Because of this ‘train wreck’ of a law, many Americans are losing their employer provided health insurance, having their workweek cut back to part-time, and seeing their premiums increase. There are responsible reforms that could be in place if the President would have worked together with the physicians in Congress to draft meaningful healthcare reform.”

Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01): “The Obamacare train wreck is upon us. Whether its premium increases for young people that we’re encouraging to buy insurance or the mandates putting a chill on job creation, Obamacare is turning out to be one unwelcome surprise after another. The proposed rate increases that were recently announced by CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield of Maryland are troubling for those who currently have insurance or want to purchase it for the first time. We need to repeal this law and replace it with patient centered reforms that actually improve the quality and access to healthcare.”

Rep. Brad Wenstrup M.D. (OH-02): “All we're trying to do is get the patient to the physician. The federal government, and specifically the Independent Payment Advisory Board, only gets in the way. The IPAB will be composed of 15 unelected bureaucrats who get to make your medical decisions for you, without ever seeing a patient.”

Rep. Glen ‘GT’ Thompson (PA-05): "Opponents of this law haven’t been far off the mark when it comes to predicting the harm this law would impose on the economy. With each new tax or regulatory mandate, the President’s so-called Affordable Care Act becomes even more unaffordable for both individuals and businesses."

The GOP Doctors Caucus: Utilizing medical expertise to develop patient-centered health care reforms focused on quality, access, affordability, portability, and choice.

Special to the Washington Times: Pound the Medicare board before it hammers the elderly

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

There are several unattractive parts of the Affordable Care Act, but perhaps the most unattractive is a little-discussed board that has the power to dramatically alter Medicare. The Independent Payment Advisory Board has the power to reshape Medicare to meet a budget, and Congress has only limited ability to stop it. It is imperative we move quickly to repeal the board.

Starting this year, the law requires the chief actuary of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to determine annually by April 30 whether cuts will need to be made to Medicare in the following years. If the chief actuary determines Medicare spending has exceeded the arbitrary target set by a formula, then the Independent Payment Advisory Board will be required to find savings in Medicare. Worse, if the board fails to agree on cuts, then the power falls unilaterally to the secretary of health and human services — potentially giving to one person the power to forever change Medicare.

So what will the process look like when cuts to Medicare are needed? Once the chief actuary makes the determination that cuts must be made, the Independent Payment Advisory Board has until Sept. 1 to send a draft proposal to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission and the secretary of health and human services for comments, and then must submit its recommendations to Congress by Jan. 15. If the board fails to submit recommendations by Jan. 25, the health and human services secretary will submit a savings proposal to Congress. Should the board submit a proposal, the secretary then has until March 1 to officially comment on the proposal to Congress. Congressional committees must introduce legislation based on the recommendations by April 1, but Congress can only change the types of spending reductions, as it takes a three-fifths vote of the Senate to change the amount. If Congress fails to pass legislation to implement the board’s cuts, the recommended cuts automatically take effect between Oct. 1 and Jan. 1.

The Independent Payment Advisory Board is an unelected, unaccountable body of 15 members. The law does not require the board to be bipartisan, despite its sweeping power to essentially regulate the entire Medicare system. While the law does explicitly state the board cannot ration care, it does not define what rationing is, and I have serious concerns the board’s decisions will lead to reduced access to health care. The board has one mission: to cut Medicare spending to meet a budget. At a time when Medicare currently only pays around 80 percent of what private insurers do, any additional cuts could absolutely limit patients’ access to care. Already, 1 in 10 physicians is not accepting new Medicare patients.

I spent more than 30 years caring for patients, and I know firsthand that few decisions in life are as personal or important as the ones you make with your family about your health care. The Affordable Care Act will forever change the way we deliver health care in this country. I remain convinced that repealing this law and starting over to replace it would be best, but in the meantime, we must address the law’s most damaging aspects. That is why I introduced legislation to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board. The Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act, H.R. 351, has 160 co-sponsors and was referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and to the House Ways and Means Committee. In the previous Congress, I introduced identical legislation, which passed the House as part of H.R. 5.

My legislation has something that is all too rare in Washington: bipartisan support. While Republicans and Democrats might not be able to agree on how we should save Medicare for future generations, we do agree that Congress — not government bureaucrats — should make those decisions. My life has been committed to health care. While I have the distinct honor of serving as a U.S. congressman, I will always be a doctor first. The American people deserve a health care system that works for them, not one that pushes them away or prevents them from receiving health care services because they’re deemed too expensive. We can do better than the Affordable Care Act. We can start by repealing the Independent Payment Advisory Board before it has a chance to do real damage to seniors’ Medicare.

Rep. Phil Roe of Tennessee, a physician, is co-chairman of the Republican Doctors’ Caucus.

Roe Announces the Winners of the 2013 Congressional Art Competition

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-TN) announced the following winners of the 2013 Congressional Art Competition in the First District of Tennessee:

First Place:

Beth Stevens - Daniel Boone High School

Second Place:

Monique Hall – Sullivan South High School

Third Place:

Abigail Jones- Greeneville High School

Honorable Mentions:

Emily Crittenden - West Greene High School

Maggie Keene – Chuckey-Doak High School

Roe made the following statement regarding the 2013 Congressional Art Competition:

“The Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent across the nation. This contest inspires artistic creativity and achievement and I’m proud to see such talented high school students in the First District. Congratulations to our winners, and a special thanks to all who participated!”

BACKGROUND:

Each spring, a nationwide high school arts competition is sponsored by the members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The contest is open to all high school students. The overall winner of each participating district will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol and Congressman Roe has started a tradition of displaying the 2^nd and 3^rd place winning artwork in his office for the next year.

The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. Since then, over 650,000 high school students have been involved with the nation-wide competition.

This year, Food City, Eastman Chemical Company and Eastman Credit Union sponsored the competition. Eastman Credit Union provided 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place winners with a Visa gift card. Also, the winners have an opportunity to receive a partial admissions scholarship to the Savannah College of Art and Design upon being accepted to the school.

The art instructor of this year’s winner, Beth Stevens, is Robb Houser from Daniel Boone High School.