Bryan Peeples Legislative Agenda
Health Care Reform
Part 1: Tort Reform Medical Act
Tort Reform Medical Act (TRMA) seeks to establish limitations where individuals can be awarded for medical malpractice suits based upon the severity of the suit. TRMA will cap settlements on wrongful cases against hospitals with many insurers refusing to cover hospitals and physicians. This scarcity along with skyrocketing costs is thought to be the result of numerous professional liability claims and lawsuits. In order to control cost TRMA seeks to deter the liability of future accidents. TRMA sets the system currently in place is expensive and inefficient in the compensation of those injured.
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According to a 2004 study of medical malpractice costs, "program administration—defense and underwriting costs—accounts for approximately 60 percent of total malpractice costs, and only 50 percent of total malpractice costs are returned to patients. These costs are high even when compared with other tort-based systems, such as automobile litigation or airplane crashes, that determine fault and compensate victims. Moreover, most patients that receive negligent care never receive any compensation. The Harvard Medical Practice Study found that only one malpractice claim was filed for every eight negligent medical injuries." Of the legal changes proposed by tort reformers, this study found that states capping payouts and restricting non-economic damages saw an average decrease of 17.1% in malpractice insurance premiums. However, more recent research provided by the insurance industry to the publication Medical Liability Monitor indicated that medical malpractice insurance rates had declined for four straight years. The decrease was seen in both states that had enacted tort reform and in states that had not, leading actuaries familiar with the data to suggest that patient safety and risk management campaigns had had a more significant effect. Similarly, Klick/Stratman (2005) found that capping economic damages saw an increase in doctors per capita.
Part 2: Health Insurance Reform
With Health Insurance Reform (HIR) must tear down the walls of limitation on the ability of health insurers to sell the services across state lines. By allowing more competition into the market the cost of health insurance services and premiums will decrease. HIR will repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and allow the insurance companies to set plans to replace those set by ACA within an 18 month time frame. Once the repeal takes place access to purchase ACA plans will be halted and a termination date 18 months from set date ACA plans will expire. 12 months from termination date insurance companies will receive a list of all individuals on ACA plans. Six (6) months before ACA expires individuals and families will receive list of companies plans and rates for services to agree and roll into. ACA expiration date will terminate service associated with program and plans chosen by individuals or families will take affect. HIR will institute regulation preventing insurance companies from denying services to those with preexisting conditions. Preexisting conditions are set by an independent medical community and must maintain the standards set by independent medical counsel. HIR will also set channels for purchase into larger insurance community groups though nonprofit and for profit organizations. Individuals who do not want to purchase insurance coverage have the ability to deny services presented to them.
Part 3: Medical Services Reform
Medical Services Reform Act (MSRA) seeks to set limitations on medical faculties percentage of cost of services to align with the federal inflation rate. MSRA seeks to regulate the consumer cost against the federal inflation rate to ensure medical services cost are affordable for all citizens. MSRA seeks to regulate all facilities performing medical services treat indigent citizens. MSRA seeks bring cost of Medicaid and Medicare funding in line with inflation rates to prevent over or under funding of services provided by medical facilities.
Part 4: Prescription Drug Reform
Prescription Drug Reform Act (PDRA) seeks to lower the cost of patients on name brand and generic prescription drugs by placing limited regulation on the pharmaceutical industry on terms to bring products to market. PDRA seeks to prevent pharmaceutical companies from advertising to public consumers and limit marketing to physicians exclusively. Currently the patent hold on pharmaceuticals is set at 20 years before expiration. PDRA seeks to decrease patent length from 20 years to five (5) years to bring viable generic pharmaceuticals to market. PDRA seeks to limit the percentage increase insurance carriers can implement on name brand pharmaceuticals when patients choses or needs name brand over generic options. PDRA seeks to prohibit insurance carriers from preventing coverage of cost associated with name brand pharmaceuticals and must cover when option is weighed. PDRA seeks to allow patient to access pharmaceutical products that are FDA approved from Canada and Mexico without prejudice or punitive repercussions when option(s) are available at a lower cost.
Tax Cut Bill
The Tax Cut Bill (TCB) seeks to reduce the burden of taxes paid for all income levels and limit the amount of deductions each income level can apply against their federal income tax as well as set the foundation for a Balanced Budget Bill limiting the amount of federal funds spent in a calendar year adjusting to natural inflation rates. Currently the tax bracket is tiered for individual and joint filings. TCB seeks to simplify the burden of filing taxes and reduce the number of brackets for each income level. $0-24,999 pays 0% annual income tax with no tax credits applied. $25,000- $99,999 pays 15% income tax with limited child and other tax credits. $100,000 or more pays 25% with limited child and other tax credit. TCB seeks to eliminate the majority of tax credits currently allowed to create a more streamlined approach to citizens paying taxes. TCB seeks to establish a fairer burden and less stressful payment of taxes across all income levels with the intended purpose of scaling back the Internal Revenue Service nationwide by 50%. TCB seeks to scale back and set in motion the elimination of personal tax audits by the IRS within a ten (10) year time frame.
Corporate and Small Business Tax Reform
Corporate and Small Business Tax Reform Act (CSBTRA) seeks to restructure the corporate and small business tax code and credits to encourage growth, reinvestment, hiring, and the ability to implement higher wages throughout all industries with out government oversight or regulation. CSBTRA seeks to implement a flat tax of 20% with removal of all tax credits. CSBTRA seeks to limit the audits and leans against corporations by the Internal Revenue Service. CSBTRA seeks to reduce the government oversight by the IRS by 80% over ten (10) years limiting the IRS for filing of Federal Tax ID’s and the annual collection of tax from corporations.
Executive Order Reform
Executive Order Reform Act (EORA) seeks to limit the number of Executive orders the office of the President can write and enforce within a calendar year. EORA seeks to limit the executive orders to 25 per calendar year. EORA seeks to place a clause on the number of executive orders to increase by five (5) in a legislative session through Senate approval of 60% of members vote and the House of Representatives with a 60% member vote. EORA seeks to limit clause once every two (2) years if requested. EORA seeks, with clause, to present additional executive orders, five (5), in writing to view before votes to ensure legality of orders within guidelines of the Constitution of the United States of America. EORA seeks to prevent abuse of power by the office of the President and to prevent, said office, the optics of legislation from office.
Congressional Term Limit Act
Congressional Term Limit Act (CTLA) seeks to impose term limits on the United States Congress. CTLA seeks to limit the terms on members of the House of Representatives to four (4) two (2) year terms for a total of eight (8) years of pubic service elected by the citizens of the representatives district. Once four (4) terms has been served the congressman or congresswoman would no longer be allowed to run or serve for office for the House of Representatives. CTLA seeks to limit members of the Senate to two (2) six (6) year terms for a total of twelve (12) years of public service elected by the citizens of the state representing them. Once two (2) terms has been served Senators would no longer be allowed to run or serve for chair in the Senate from the State he/she represented nor any other State in the union. CTLA seeks to establish a clause where a congressman or congresswoman once public service is finalized in the House of Representatives may run for a seat in the Senate, upon choosing, for a maximum of one (1) term for six (6) years and may not seek office in the Senate or House of Representatives after term in finished. CTLA seeks to establish a clause that once public service is rendered in the Senate a Senator may run for a seat representing his/her district in the House of Representatives, upon choosing, for a maximum of two (2) terms for four (4) years and may not seek office in the Senate or House of Representatives after term(s) complete. CTLA seeks to establish a Constitutional Amendment to establish set term limits on guidelines on Congress permanently as voted on by the citizens of the United States of America.