Rep. Bill Cassidy, MD Discusses White House Health Summit On MSNBC

MSNBC

Cassidy: “Well clearly it’s good that one, we’re considering the issue. Having cared for the uninsured for 20 years, it’s my heart’s desire to see it addressed. Secondly, Republicans have been asking to meet with the President for about a year now. I’m glad it’s finally come to pass. Those are good things.”

On what he hears about reform from patients:

Cassidy: “Clearly cost is a major issue from patients; it’s front and center, which is why, by the way, Republicans advocate health savings accounts. It’s interesting because I heard one of the speakers - I’m not sure which -- it was [House Ways & Means Committee Ranking Member] Dave Camp speaking -- about health savings accounts are 30% cheaper than traditional insurance. In fact, I think I heard [Senator Max] Baucus say, ‘Well, they’re fine for middle and upper income people.’ According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 27% of people who have an HSA with a high deductible catastrophic policy were previously uninsured, and this group of people access those preventative services as frequently as those with traditional insurance. So I think the Republican proposal meets that need. It lowers the cost, thereby giving access.

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