Lubbock Times

Last week, House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) published an Op-Ed in The Hill addressing the unsustainable level of federal health care spending. He emphasized the need for reform to enhance patient access to quality care and reduce taxpayer burden. Programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Obamacare are significant contributors to the nation's fiscal challenges.

Chairman Arrington highlighted that the national debt has reached nearly $35 trillion, translating to over $265,000 in liabilities per American household. He noted that Washington spends about $2 trillion more than it earns annually, with rising health care costs being a primary factor.

"Today, health care spending represents nearly 18 percent of our economy — and growing," Arrington stated. He pointed out that federal expenditures on programs like Medicare, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance, and subsidies for ObamaCare exceed $1.8 trillion annually. Alarmingly, this figure has doubled over the past decade.

The Congressional Budget Office projects that by 2034, federal spending on these four health programs will reach $3.2 trillion annually—nearly three times what is projected for national defense spending.

Arrington criticized President Biden's administration for exacerbating the problem through costly policy choices that divert resources from vulnerable populations. He cited demographic changes, including the retirement of ten thousand baby boomers daily, which are expected to double Medicare program spending over the next decade.

To address these issues, Arrington called for modernization and reform of federal health programs to improve access and efficiency while reducing costs. "Here are five critical questions health reformers in Congress should ask to not only bend the spending trajectory but also lower costs for patients and increase access to quality care," he proposed.

He concluded by stressing the urgency of bending the health care cost curve as essential for repairing America's fiscal foundation: "We know where the money is... This is no longer a choice; it’s a survival strategy for our nation’s strength and growth."

The House Budget Committee is actively working to highlight inefficiencies in federal health care spending while evaluating policies aimed at lowering costs and improving patient access. Last August, Chairman Arrington established the Health Care Task Force led by Chair Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) to develop strategies for better patient outcomes and reduced federal health expenditure.

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