Washington, DC – In light of the economic forum House Democrats are holding today and based on new statistics released this morning by the Department of Labor, Ways and Means Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI) released a state-by-state table showing 49 states and the District of Columbia have lost jobs since the President signed the stimulus bill into law.  “It is clear from today’s jobs… Read more

Additional Findings Will Especially Alarm Seniors and Patients Worried About Access to Health Care   Washington, DC – In another blow to Democrats’ push for a massive government takeover of the nation’s health care system, Ways and Means Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI) today released findings from a memo from the Obama Administration’s Chief Actuary for the Centers for Medicare and… Read more

At the request of House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI), the Office of the Actuary (OACT) at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a federal agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, released their expert and independent analysis of the House Democrats’ health reform bill.  Here is a summary of its key findings: America’s appetite for… Read more

Washington, DC – Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Wally Herger (R-CA) today questioned AARP’s unequivocal endorsement of legislation expected to be considered in the coming days by the Senate that will result in massive Medicare premium increases for its members. “It makes no sense for AARP to abandon their long-stated legislative priorities, which had included… Read more

Last week the Obama Administration offered its first peek into where 2009 stimulus funds have been awarded, by state or territory.  That data shows how stimulus funds awarded to date range from a low of $2 per capita in Puerto Rico, $7 per capita in Rhode Island, and $12 per capita in Michigan all the way up to $950 per capita in Washington, D.C.  That’s despite the fact that Puerto Rico… Read more

After nearly a month of requests from Ways and Means Republicans to remove the misguided gag order placed on Medicare plans from communicating with their members, the Obama Administration finally lifted the ban Friday evening. As a result, Medicare plans will once again be able to communicate factual information on pending legislation without penalty or political pressure. Below are a… Read more

Washington, DC – Today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that the Agency was backing away from its inappropriate and unconstitutional gag order on all Medicare Advantage (MA) and prescription drug plans. On September 21, 2009, CMS issued an order prohibiting all MA and prescription drug plans from communicating with seniors about the Medicare cuts in health… Read more

Washington, DC – Ways and Means Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI) issued the following statement on the announcement by the Social Security Administration that there would be no annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) next year: “Seniors, those with disabilities and their families are understandably disappointed to learn that the annual cost of living adjustment or COLA they expect in… Read more

Washington, DC – Ways and Means Democrats today shut down the committee process, blocking Republicans from offering amendments to H.R. 3200, the House Democrats' health care legislation.  In doing so, Democrats rammed through a letter to the Budget Committee that paves the way for health care to be considered under reconciliation – which requires only 51 votes for passage in the Senate as… Read more

Washington, DC – Congressman Wally Herger (R-CA), Ranking Member of the Ways & Means Subcommittee on Health, today challenged the Obama Administration’s flawed defense of its “gag order” prohibiting Medicare Advantage (MA) and prescription drug plans from communicating with enrollees about benefit cuts in proposed health care legislation.  Previously, Herger had joined with other… Read more