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Legislation & Issues

The health care system in America is broken. Costs are rising at an unacceptable rate—more than doubling over the last 10 years, which is nearly four times the rate of wage growth. Too many patients feel trapped by health care decisions dictated by insurers and HMOs. Too many doctors are torn between practicing medicine and practicing insurance. And some 47 million Americans worry what will happen to them or their children if they get sick.

As a physician, I am keenly aware that our country needs health care reform. I support comprehensive reform which would enable every American to enjoy health coverage, lower costs, increase patient choice, improve access and quality, and protect the patient-physician relationship.

Universal access to high quality health care is possible, and Americans are justified to expect it. We have the best doctors in the world…the best scientists in the world… the best hospitals in the world. Now America needs to build the best health care in the world. We need to empower patients, and reduce the power of government and insurance bureaucrats. Every American should be able to get the care they need.

We will move closest to this goal when we promote the same innovation and competition in health care that we see in every other American industry. America should achieve universal access in a way that puts individual Americans in charge of their own health care decisions. We need American solutions.

In May 2009, I introduced my own health care reform solution, the Patients’ Choice Act (S. 1099) which would accomplish these goals. The Patients’ Choice Act would put individuals in charge of their health care decisions and would increase access, affordability, and choice of health care plans. This proposal is a clear market-based reform that seeks to strengthen the relationship between the patient and the doctor.

Click here for a brief summary of S.1099, the Patients' Choice Act.

Click here for a section-by-section version the Patients' Choice Act.

Click here for a more comprehensive summary of the Patients' Choice Act.

Click here to view the Patients' Choice Act handout. 

Click here for example scenarios of individual coverage under the Patients' Choice Act.

Click here for an alternative to an Individual Mandate and auto-enrollment under the Patients' Choice Act.

Click here for the Patients' Choice Act Q & A's section.

 

Let me briefly to highlight a few points:

• Americans save more money. The Patients’ Choice Act equalizes the tax treatment of health insurance and enables every American to buy health insurance with a tax credit, regardless of employment status, age, health condition or the resources to purchase health insurance. This means that about nine in 10 American households would see a tax cut, and for patients and families making under $250,000 annually, their health insurance premium costs would generally be lower. Employers would still be able to deduct from their taxes the cost of providing health insurance to their employees, but millions of Americans who do not currently receive health insurance would have real buying power.

• States offer solutions. The Patients’ Choice Act incentivizes states to establish State Exchanges, which would offer high-quality, affordable health insurance to all individuals, regardless of their employment status, age, health condition, or pre-existing conditions. Health insurance plans sold in a State Exchange would offer the high-quality health plans like Members of Congress receive.

• Seniors fare better. The Patients’ Choice Act protects seniors. Unlike some proposals being considered in Congress, my plan is not financed by arbitrary and drastic cuts to Medicare. As a practicing physician, I know how many seniors rely on Medicare and I am committed to reforming Medicare. My plan would significantly reduce the high rate of Medicare fraud compared to today’s practices. This policy change alone would improve Medicare’s solvency, ensure taxpayer dollars are not wasted, and help us keep our commitment to America’s seniors. My plan would also improve competition and value under Medicare Advantage, and allow seniors making healthy decisions to save more.

• No new spending, no new taxes. According to our estimates Patients’ Choice Act does not require new spending or new taxes. It is my intent to address our health care crisis my fixing incentivizes in the system and reallocating existing money. Americans already spend $2.4 trillion a year on health care, which means that we need to figure out ways to spend our health care dollars more effectively instead of drastically increasing spending. In fact, one independent estimate said my bill could save taxpayers $70 billion and ensure a majority of currently uninsured Americans.

• Transforms Medicaid to provide real coverage and care. The Patients’ Choice Act transforms Medicaid by building upon the innovations we have seen in a number of states. My plan would integrates low-income families with dependent children into higher quality private plans through a tax credit and direct financial assistance. Keeping families together within one provider network will foster coordinated, personalized care and promote innovative patient care models such as medical homes. My plan also maintains current law for benefit security and stable funding for individuals with disabilities but enables better care management. This would improve the health coverage and care for about 45 million Americans, and save taxpayers about $260 billion. States would save a lot as well: about $960 billion over 10 years!

• Invests in prevention and wellness. The Patients’ Choice Act invests in prevention and wellness for all Americans. Currently, five preventable chronic diseases cause two-thirds of American deaths and consume 75 percent of our total health expenditures each year. These chronic diseases are largely preventable. My plan’s investment in public health and disease prevention will help reduce health care costs and improve the quality of Americans’ lives.

• Less government control and no government-run plan. The Patients’ Choice Act increases patient control and decreases government control. I strongly oppose the creation of any new government-run health care plan. A government-run program would only compound existing problems, by giving taxpayer dollars to Washington bureaucrats who would wield undue control over Americans’ health care decisions. A new government health care plan would also mean that millions of Americans would lose their current health care. Furthermore, socialized governmental systems stay afloat by rationing care and letting people die before their time. Numerous studies, reports, and media have shown that necessary medical procedures are delayed far too long in countries where there is socialized medicine. A government-run plan is not the answer. A government-run plan would unfortunately operate with the compassion of the IRS and the efficiency of the federal Katrina response. It will not meet the basic needs of our citizens, reduce costs or improve outcomes, so I will continue to oppose it.

All Americans should have the ability to make their own health care decisions, see the doctor they want, and get the care they need. As a practicing physician and two-time cancer survivor, I support targeted, sensible health care reform which builds on what works and fixes what is broken. I will fight for solutions that strengthen the relationship between patients and doctors, solutions that put patients –not Washington bureaucrats – in charge of their health care decisions and provide common-sense solutions to our nation’s health care crisis.

Related Health Care News & Press Releases

December 2014
Date Title
12/16/14 Senators Baldwin and Coburn Applaud Commitment to Enhance Access to HIV Drugs in Developing Countries
12/16/14 Senators Baldwin and Coburn Applaud Commitment to Enhance Access to HIV Drugs in Developing Countries
12/4/14 A Bad Provision Even by ObamaCare Standards
November 2014
Date Title
11/18/14 Coburn Releases Statement on Lack of Transparency with Health Providers
October 2014
Date Title
10/22/14 Wastebook 2014: What Washington doesn't want you to read.
10/22/14 Wastebook 2014: What Washington doesn't want you to read.
10/19/14 Making Ebola preparedness a priority
August 2014
Date Title
8/29/14 New Health Benefit For Temporary Federal Employees May Violate Federal Law
8/28/14 New Health Benefit For Temporary Federal Employees May Violate Federal Law
8/13/14 GAO Report Confirms Need for Additional Oversight of Medicare Claims Reviews
8/13/14 GAO Report Confirms Need for Additional Oversight of Medicare Claims Reviews
July 2014
Date Title
7/31/14 CMS’ Mismanagement of HealthCare.Gov Contracts Led to Millions Wasted in Failed HealthCare.Gov Roll Out, New GAO Report Shows
7/31/14 CMS’ Mismanagement of HealthCare.Gov Contracts Led to Millions Wasted in Failed HealthCare.Gov Roll Out, New GAO Report Shows
7/22/14 Fake Applications for ObamaCare Tax Subsidies Show How Vulnerable Health Care Law is to Fraud & Abuse
7/22/14 Fake Applications for ObamaCare Tax Subsidies Show How Vulnerable Health Care Law is to Fraud & Abuse
7/21/14 Dr. Coburn Asks VA OIG to Investigate OKC VAMC
7/7/14 New IG Report Finds Inconsistencies With Health Exchange Applications
7/7/14 HHS OIG Response on Medicaid Estate Recovery Audit
7/1/14 New IG Report Finds Inconsistencies With Health Exchange Applications
June 2014
Date Title
6/30/14 Dr. Coburn’s Statement on Hobby Lobby Ruling
6/30/14 Dr. Coburn’s Statement on Hobby Lobby Ruling
6/20/14 Why freedom is the best health care alternative
6/17/14 Senators Ask FDA about Expanded Access Program in Response to Patient Concerns
6/17/14 Senators Ask FDA about Expanded Access Program in Response to Patient Concerns
May 2014
Date Title
5/27/14 Hatch, McConnell and Coburn Question Accuracy of Obamacare Subsidies
5/27/14 McConnell, Hatch and Coburn Question Accuracy of Obamacare Subsidies
5/21/14 Senators Ask How Departments Monitor their Medical Workforce Programs
5/2/14 Senate Doctors Introduce the SCOPE Act to Limit Power of Secretary of HHS
5/2/14 Senate Doctors Introduce the SCOPE Act to Limit Power of Secretary of HHS
5/1/14 Senators Ask FDA About Guidance Plans for Generic Abuse-Deterrent Formulations of Opioids
April 2014
Date Title
4/10/14 RELEASE: Coburn, Coons Introduce Bill to Empower Medicare Beneficiaries to Adopt Advance Directives
4/10/14 Coburn, Coons Introduce Bill to Empower Medicare Beneficiaries to Adopt Advance Directives
4/9/14 Dr. Coburn Asks How HHS Monitors its Medical Workforce Programs
4/1/14 Drs. Coburn & Barrasso Release New Report on Obamacare
4/1/14 Drs. Coburn & Barrasso Release New Report Chronicling Obamacare’s Flaws
4/1/14 Drs. Coburn & Barrasso Release New Report Chronicling Obamacare's Flaws
March 2014
Date Title
3/30/14 Obamacare Cuts Choices, Not Costs
3/25/14 Senators Coburn and Burr Ask Canada to Stop Producing Addictive Opiods
February 2014
Date Title
2/26/14 Coburn Releases New Health are Cost Report
2/26/14 Coburn Releases New Health Care Cost Report
2/18/14 Senate Doctors Question CMS Plan to Test ICD-10 Codes
2/18/14 Senate Doctors Question CMS Plan to Test ICD-10 Codes
2/12/14 Senators Ask FDA About Plan to Prevent Abuse, Misuse, and Diversion of Recently Approved Opioid
2/10/14 Dr. Coburn Asks IRS to Clarify Enforcement of Individual Mandate
2/10/14 Dr. Coburn Asks IRS to Clarify Enforcement of Individual Mandate
January 2014
Date Title
1/30/14 BURR, COBURN, HATCH: ANALYSIS SHOWS THERE IS A BETTER WAY THAN OBAMACARE
1/30/14 BURR, COBURN, HATCH: ANALYSIS SHOWS THERE IS A BETTER WAY THAN OBAMACARE
1/28/14 A Republican plan to replace ObamaCare, cover pre-existing conditions and lower costs
1/27/14 BURR, COBURN, HATCH UNVEIL OBAMACARE REPLACEMENT PLAN
1/27/14 Dr. Coburn Unveils Obamacare Replacement - Patient CARE Act - with Senators Burr and Hatch
1/22/14 Senators Question Secretary Sebelius' "Free" Medicare Benefits
1/9/14 Coburn Supports Federation of State Medical Board’s Efforts to Advance Medical Licensure Compact
1/8/14 GOP Senators Express Concern Over HHS IG Report Citing Insufficient Oversight of Electronic Health Record Program
1/8/14 GOP Senators Express Concern Over HHS IG Report Citing Insufficient Oversight of Electronic Health Record Program
1/7/14 Carper, Coburn Highlight New Administration Proposal to Combat Fraudulent Drug Diversion From Medicare
1/7/14 Carper, Coburn Highlight New Administration Proposal to Combat Fraudulent Drug Diversion From Medicare
December 2013
Date Title
12/30/13 The Year Washington Fled Reality
12/19/13 Inspector General: Running Obamacare’s Exchanges Is The “Top Management Challenge” for HHS In 2014
12/12/13 HHS Responds to Dr. Coburn on Health Care Workforce Projections, Acknowledges Country Faces Shortage of 20,400 Primary Care Physicians by 2020
12/12/13 Members Commend Senate Finance Committee Inclusion of PRIME Act Amendment
12/12/13 Members Commend Senate Finance Committee Inclusion of PRIME Act Amendment
12/5/13 New Report on Efforts to Repeal, Defund, and Delay the Affordable Care Act
12/3/13 Dr. Coburn Calls for Preservation of In-Office Ancillary Services Exemption in SGR Reform
November 2013
Date Title
11/22/13 Dr. Coburn Warns Unions Should Not Receive Special Exemptions From Obamacare
11/21/13 BOXER, COBURN PRAISE PRESIDENT OBAMA FOR SIGNING BIPARTISAN HOPE ACT
11/21/13 BOXER, COBURN PRAISE PRESIDENT OBAMA FOR SIGNING BIPARTISAN HOPE ACT
11/21/13 COBURN, BOXER PRAISE PRESIDENT OBAMA FOR SIGNING BIPARTISAN HOPE ACT
11/20/13 GOP LAWMAKERS QUESTION SUCCESS OF OBAMACARE LOAN PROGRAM
11/20/13 GOP LAWMAKERS QUESTION SUCCESS OF OBAMACARE LOAN PROGRAM
11/14/13 Dr. Coburn and Rep. Lee Call for New AIDS Treatment Goal
11/14/13 Dr. Coburn and Rep. Lee Call for New AIDS Treatment Goal
11/13/13 BOXER, COBURN PRAISE HOUSE PASSAGE OF THE HOPE ACT
11/13/13 BOXER, COBURN PRAISE HOUSE PASSAGE OF THE HOPE ACT
11/13/13 BOXER, COBURN PRAISE HOUSE PASSAGE OF THE HOPE ACT
11/6/13 Facts About CBO Scoring of Program Integrity Provisions
11/1/13 Senators Warn New Report Highlights Administration’s Failure to Anticipate Shortages of Health Care Providers
October 2013
Date Title
10/31/13 HHS Haunts Taxpayers by Paying Millions to Deceased and Undocumented Individuals
10/31/13 HHS Haunts Taxpayers by Paying Millions to Deceased and Undocumented Individuals
10/16/13 Dr. Coburn’s Bill “Requiring E-VERIFI” Act of 2013
10/15/13 An Obamacare Battle We Can Win
10/14/13 CBO Warns Continued Rise in Federal Health Spending Threatens Sustainability of Budget, Economic Growth
September 2013
Date Title
9/24/13 Dr. Coburn Urges Institute of Museum and Library Services to Reconsider Role in Promoting Obamacare
9/24/13 17 Senators Call on HHS to Extend "Stage 2" for Health IT Meaningful Use Requirements
9/12/13 Dr. Coburn Praises House Passage of Bill Requiring Income Verification for Obamacare Subsidies
9/12/13 Dr. Coburn Praises House Passage of Bill Requiring Income Verification for Obamacare Subsidies
9/11/13 CRS Outlines Progress of Dismantling Obamacare
9/9/13 Timeline: Dr. Coburn's Effort to Eliminate the Bay State Bailout
9/6/13 Senators Question OPM Granting HHS Special Hiring Authority to Implement Health Reform Law
9/5/13 Medicare Actuary: Coburn-Lieberman Medicare Plan Saves $535 B, Could Extend Program’s Solvency for Decades
August 2013
Date Title
8/22/13 GAO Report Recommends CMS Action to Better Manage Medicare Contractors
July 2013
Date Title
7/30/13 Congressional Research Service: Government Shutdown Does Not Shut Down Obamacare
7/26/13 HATCH, GRASSLEY, COBURN WELCOME CMS ACTION TO PREVENT WASTE, FRAUD & ABUSE WITHIN MEDICARE
7/26/13 HATCH, GRASSLEY, COBURN WELCOME CMS ACTION TO PREVENT WASTE, FRAUD & ABUSE WITHIN MEDICARE
7/10/13 Thune, Senate Republicans Call on President to Permanently Delay ObamaCare for All
7/10/13 Thune, Senate Republicans Call on President to Permanently Delay ObamaCare for All
7/10/13 Drs. Coburn and Boustany Question HHS Secretary Sebelius, Say Audit Reveals “Ongoing Significant Weaknesses in HHS’ Financial Management”
7/10/13 Drs. Coburn and Boustany Question HHS Secretary Sebelius, Say Audit Reveals “Ongoing Significant Weaknesses in HHS’ Financial Management”
7/3/13 Dr. Coburn’s Statement on Administration’s Decision to Delay Employee Mandate
7/3/13 Dr. Coburn’s Statement on Administration’s Decision to Delay Employee Mandate
June 2013
Date Title
6/26/13 The Obama Administration’s Decision Terminates the Insure Oklahoma Program
6/21/13 Senators Request GAO Probe CO-OP Projects Under Health Reform Law
6/20/13 Senators Express Concerns With Navigator Proposed Regulation in Letter to Secretary Sebelius
6/20/13 SENATORS: HEALTH LAW’S NAVIGATOR PROGRAM LACKS CONSUMER SAFEGUARDS, INCREASES RISK OF FRAUD
6/20/13 Coburn and McCaskill Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Means-Test Medicare Premiums
6/20/13 Coburn and McCaskill Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Means-Test Medicare Premiums
6/20/13 SENATORS: HEALTH LAW’S NAVIGATOR PROGRAM LACKS CONSUMER SAFEGUARDS, INCREASES RISK OF FRAUD
6/19/13 Senators Klobuchar, Toomey, Shaheen, and Coburn Request That The GAO Examine Price Transparency for Medicare Beneficiaries
6/18/13 Boxer, Coburn Praise Senate Passage of the Hope Act
6/18/13 Boxer, Coburn Praise Senate Passage of the Hope Act
6/17/13 McCaskill, Coburn Seek Support from Colleagues on Revision to Health Care Law
6/17/13 McCaskill, Coburn Seek Support from Colleagues on Revision to Health Care Law
6/14/13 Examining Medicare Spending: What’s Realistic to Expect?
6/14/13 By The Numbers: Entitlements Drive Spending
6/13/13 Washington's Leadership Crisis
6/13/13 Washington's Leadership Crisis
6/10/13 Senators Carper, Coburn and Congressmen Roskam, Carney Lead Bipartisan Effort to Combat Billions of Dollars in Waste, Fraud and Abuse in Medicare and Medicaid
6/10/13 Senators Carper, Coburn and Congressmen Roskam, Carney Lead Bipartisan Effort to Combat Billions of Dollars in Waste, Fraud and Abuse in Medicare and Medicaid
May 2013
Date Title
5/29/13 Dr. Coburn Questions Secretary Sebelius' Solicitation of Private Funds to Implement Health Care Reform
5/16/13 Senators Coburn, Burr React to GAO Report on Hospital Payment Modification
5/16/13 Senators Coburn, Burr React to GAO Report on Hospital Payment Modification
5/16/13 Senate Doctors Introduce Bill To Stop Adoption of ICD-10 Codes
5/15/13 Senators Coburn, Burr Introduce Bill to Prevent Unrealistic Medicaid FMAP
5/15/13 Senators Coburn, Burr Introduce Bill to Prevent Unrealistic Medicaid FMAP
5/9/13 Senators Hatch, Carper, Coburn, McCaskill, Johnson Follow Up on HHS' Use of Surety Bonds
5/1/13 GAO Report Describes Medicaid Improper Payments
5/1/13 GAO Report Describes Medicaid Improper Payments
April 2013
Date Title
4/18/13 Change Medicare to Save Medicare
4/17/13 Coburn and Upton Issue Statement on FDA Opioid Drug Application Ruling
4/17/13 Coburn and Upton Issue Statement on FDA Opioid Drug Application Ruling
4/17/13 Change Medicare to Save Medicare
4/16/13 GOP Senators Release White Paper on Health IT, Cite Concerns
4/16/13 GOP Senators Release White Paper on Health IT, Cite Concerns
4/8/13 Alexander, Burr, Johanns, Coburn, Cornyn Call on Obama Administration to Reexamine Plan to “Undermine Care” by Raising the Cost of In-home Companion Care
4/8/13 Alexander, Burr, Johanns, Coburn, Cornyn Call on Obama Administration to Reexamine Plan to “Undermine Care” by Raising the Cost of In-home Companion Care
March 2013
Date Title
3/28/13 Senators Hatch, Grassley, Coburn Request Information on CMS Moratorium Authority in Letter to Secretary Sebelius
3/28/13 HHS REPORT SHOWS TENS OF MILLIONS LOST TO MEDICARE OVERPAYMENTS
3/5/13 Dr. Coburn Releases Joint Letter to FDA on Abuse-Deterrent Opioid Drugs
February 2013
Date Title
2/14/13 BOXER, COBURN INTRODUCE BILL TO END BAN ON RESEARCH INTO ORGAN DONATIONS BETWEEN HIV-POSITIVE PATIENTS
2/14/13 BOXER, COBURN INTRODUCE BILL TO END BAN ON RESEARCH INTO ORGAN DONATIONS BETWEEN HIV-POSITIVE PATIENTS
2/12/13 Senate Rejects Amendments Protecting Victims of Sex Crimes
2/7/13 Dr. Coburn's Amendments to S. 47, the Violence Against Women Act
January 2013
Date Title
1/31/13 BIPARTISAN FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS RELEASE RECOMMENDATIONS TO COMBAT WASTE, FRAUD & ABUSE IN MEDICARE & MEDICAID
1/31/13 North Carolina Hospital Assocations Voices Support for S. 183, The Hospital Payment Fairness Act of 2013
1/30/13 Coburn, McCaskill Introduce Bill to End Medicare Payment Gimmick in Health Reform Law
1/28/13 Coburn-Kerry-Burr Letter to CMS Acting Administrator Tavenner on a DME Grandfathering Issue
1/25/13 Coburn Introduces Bill to Protect Taxpayers From Paying for Elective Abortions Under New Multi-State Health Plans
1/10/13 Inspector General Report Reveals Major Shortcomings in Medicare Oversight
1/10/13 Upton, Coburn Commend FDA’s Draft Guidance As Important First Step to Keep Non-Abuse-Deterrent Prescription Drugs From Hitting Market
December 2012
Date Title
12/20/12 Acting HHS General Counsel Bill Schultz's Q&A from Nomination Hearing
12/19/12 Prescription for Trouble
12/17/12 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Issues Report on Medicare Predictive Analytics and Fraud Prevention Program
12/10/12 Senators Highlight Recent GAO Reports Detailing Vulnerabilities to Waste and Fraud in Medicare, Medicaid
November 2012
Date Title
11/29/12 Two New Studies Shed New Light on GOP Senators' Concerns With Federal Electronic Health Record Incentives Program
11/19/12 Dr. Coburn Applauds Governor Fallin’s Decision Regarding Obamacare
11/15/12 Senators Highlight GAO Review of New Medicare Fraud Detection System
October 2012
Date Title
10/24/12 Washington lacks courage to make tough decisions
10/23/12 Dr. Coburn Sends Letter to Governor Fallin Highlighting Concerns With Potential Medicaid Expansion
10/21/12 COBURN: ‘Wastebook’ unearths government excess
10/15/12 Coburn Releases Annual Report Highlighting Some of the Most Wasteful Government Spending in 2012
10/9/12 WASTEBOOK 2012
September 2012
Date Title
9/13/12 Dr. Coburn Releases New Investigative Report on Problems Uncovered in Social Security Disability Program
9/10/12 Obamacare: It’s Still a Gateway to Single-Payer Health Care
August 2012
Date Title
8/6/12 OPM Responds to Coburn's Request for Explanation, Legal Basis Regarding New Rule Extending FEHBP Coverage to Temporary Firefighters
8/3/12 HRSA Responds to GAO Findings & Senators' Request for Plan to Address Deficiencies, Ineffective Management at HRSA
8/2/12 GAO FINDS THOUSANDS OF MEDICAID PROVIDERS WHICH RECEIVED BILLIONS OF TAX DOLLARS ARE TAX CHEATS
8/1/12 Dr. Coburn Hosting Town Hall Meetings Across Oklahoma
8/1/12 Coburn, Hatch Demand Answers on Effectiveness of Multi-Million Dollar Anti-Fraud Initiative at CMS
June 2012
Date Title
6/21/12 GAO Finds HRSA Failing Taxpayers, Patients, Due to Ineffective Management of Community Health Center Program
6/19/12 Obama is not doing fine: President’s reliance on government solutions is constraining economy
6/18/12 Senate Doctors: Utility MACT Kills Jobs, Increases Health Risks
6/13/12 The Administration's "Campaign to Cut Waste", One Year Later
6/11/12 Physicians in Congress Release ‘Doctors’ Note’ on Medicare
6/6/12 Coburn Releases New Report on Unspent Federal Dollars
May 2012
Date Title
5/29/12 ICD-10 Implementation Date: Better Never Than Later?
5/22/12 Dr. Coburn's Amendments to the FDA User Fee Bill
5/18/12 GAO Finds Not All FDA Employees Are Held Accountable for Meeting User Fee Agreement Goals
5/10/12 Defusing Our Debt Bomb With A $2 Trillion Stimulus
5/9/12 HHS Announces 26 Grants From Innovation Center But Data Suggests It’s Likely A Waste of Money
5/9/12 Senate and House GOP Question HHS on Wasteful Billion Dollar Loan Program
5/2/12 Coburn Joins Other Finance Committee Members In Leading Bipartisan Effort to Combat Waste, Fraud, & Abuse In Medicare & Medicaid
April 2012
Date Title
4/25/12 Ending Federal Duplication Finds Immediate Savings
4/24/12 New CMS Medicare Rule Affirms Coburn's Warning of Special Massachusetts "Bay State Bailout" Under President's Healthcare Law
4/23/12 Medicare Actuary Warns Program’s Financing Outlook Could Be More Dire Than Official Projections
4/17/12 Senators Coburn and Burr Introduce PATIENTS’ FDA Act
4/16/12 Drs Coburn, Barrasso, Gingrey and Roe Release Report on Coming Insolvency of Medicare
March 2012
Date Title
3/29/12 Senators Coburn and Burr Issue Joint Statement on GAO Oversight Report
3/29/12 New Survey: 75% of Physicians Largely Oppose the President’s Healthcare Law
3/29/12 New Survey: 75% of Physicians Largely Oppose the Affordable Care Act, the President’s Healthcare Law
3/27/12 Joint Committee on Taxation Confirms Tax Increases in President’s Health Care Law
3/19/12 CMS Memo on Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund
3/19/12 CRS Memo on Public & Private Expenditures for Health Care
3/19/12 CRS Memo on Medicare & Medicaid's New "Innovation Center"
3/19/12 Drs Coburn & Barrasso Release New Health Care Report on “Side Effects” of the President’s Health Care Law
3/8/12 Senate to Vote on Coburn Duplication Amendment #1738 to the Highway Bill, S.1813
February 2012
Date Title
2/28/12 Sens. Coburn, Collins, & Lieberman Say Annual GAO Report Exposes More Duplication in the Federal Budget, Less Responsibility Coming Out of Washington
2/28/12 Senator Coburn to Testify at House Committee on Oversight and Governmental Reform Hearing Today on Annual GAO Report Addressing Duplication & Overlap in the Federal Government
2/27/12 The National Rural Health Association Voices Opposition to the Special Deal for Massachusetts under the New Health Care Law
2/16/12 Coburn, Burr Introduce Plan to Save Medicare, the Seniors’ Choice Act
2/16/12 Coburn, Burr Unveil Plan to Save Medicare, the Seniors’ Choice Act
2/7/12 Coburn, Hatch Express Concern Over Misleading Term Used in Marketing New Health Law
2/6/12 Coburn, Boustany Request Information on Financial Mismanagement at HHS
2/2/12 Lieberman, Coburn Oppose Budget Gimmicks to Pay For SGR Repeal
2/2/12 Congressional physicians to AARP: Help us save Medicare
January 2012
Date Title
1/30/12 Dr. Coburn to Host Town Hall Meeting in Edmond on Saturday, February 4th
1/9/12 Senators Coburn & Scott Brown Send Letter to CMS Acting Administrator Asking on Implementing Recommendations to Reduce Medicare Fraud
December 2011
Date Title
12/23/11 Dr. Coburn Urges Review of Disability Claims & Potentially Fraudulent Practices of Law Firm
12/17/11 Dr. Coburn Votes "No" on Omnibus Spending Bill
12/13/11 Coburn, Hatch Request Explanation from HHS Over Lack of Transparency & Oversight in CMS
12/5/11 Build on what works to save Medicare
November 2011
Date Title
11/30/11 New CRS Report on How to Repeal the New Health Care Law
11/29/11 Sens. Coburn & Hatch Send Follow-Up Letter to CMS Outlining Concerns with Medicare Provider Enrollment Programs
11/22/11 Dr. Coburn’s Statement on Failure of the Super Committee
11/17/11 Dr. Coburn Supports State-Based Health Insurance Exchanges
11/9/11 Drs Coburn and Barrasso Release a Doctors’ Perspective of “Medicare & You 2012” Handbook
11/2/11 Administration Fails to Meet Deadlines In Its Own Health Law
October 2011
Date Title
10/7/11 CRS Report on Majority Leader Reid Limiting Debate by Filling the Amendment Tree
10/6/11 If You Like the Health Plan You Have, Your Employer Might Drop It
10/5/11 Dr. Coburn Launches “Back in Black” Online Survey
September 2011
Date Title
9/29/11 Sens. Carper, Coburn Urge Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction to Focus on Medicare and Medicaid Waste, Fraud and Abuse
9/26/11 National Coalition on Health Care to Super Committee: Pass the FAST Act
9/21/11 New Report Shows New Healthcare Law Main Impediment to Job Creation
9/13/11 FAST Act Facts: Dr. Coburn's Anti-Fraud Medicare & Medicaid Bill
9/13/11 FACT CHECK: Examining The President’s Claims on Medicare
9/9/11 Re-examining PPACA’s Federally-Mandated Medical Loss Ratios
9/8/11 Dr. Coburn’s Statement on President Obama’s Jobs Plan
August 2011
Date Title
8/16/11 New Report Shows 4 out of 5 Seniors Could Save Money From Medigap Reform
8/11/11 Concerns with the Institute of Medicines’ Review of the FDA’s 510(k) Process, Waste of $1.3 Million Taxpayer Dollars
8/2/11 Why I voted against the debt deal
July 2011
Date Title
7/27/11 9,000,000,000,000 Ways to Balance the Budget
7/25/11 Dr. Coburn’s Statement on Breakdown in Debt Talks
7/18/11 Dr. Coburn Releases $9 Trillion Deficit Reduction Plan
June 2011
Date Title
6/28/11 Lieberman, Coburn Reveal Bipartisan Proposal to Save Medicare, Reduce Debt
6/22/11 Sens. Carper and Coburn Lead Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Billions of Dollars in Waste, Fraud and Abuse in Medicare and Medicaid
6/22/11 Dr. Coburn Introduces Bill to Restore Constitutional Limitations on Congressional Power
6/7/11 What Others Are Saying About the Coburn-Burr-Chambliss Medicaid Bill, S. 1031
May 2011
Date Title
5/24/11 Dr. Coburn & Colleagues Send Letter to Secretary Sebelius & CMS Administrator Berwick Regarding Proposed ACO Regulation
5/19/11 Senators Coburn, Burr, Chambliss Introduce Bill to Reform and Strengthen Medicaid
5/13/11 Don’t Miss These Details
April 2011
Date Title
4/6/11 Reform or go broke: Medicaid, Medicare must change
March 2011
Date Title
3/21/11 CRS Confirms White House Could Recess Appoint Controversial Medicare Czars
3/17/11 Medicare Ad Wars: Propaganda vs. Program Integrity, 4 to 1?
3/10/11 Drs. Coburn & Boustany Send Letter to HHS Secretary Sebelius Concerning Findings in HHS Financial Audit
3/3/11 New Report: Medicaid Expansion Will Cost States $118 Billion
February 2011
Date Title
2/18/11 Today CBO released a full score of repealing the Democrats’ health overhaul
2/16/11 BURR & COBURN: Caution kills
2/10/11 CBO Director Confirms the Health Law Causes a Reduction of 800,000 Workers
2/7/11 Financial Audit of the Department of Health & Human Services Reveals Concerning Findings for FY2010
2/2/11 Dr. Coburn Votes to Repeal Flawed Health Care Law
January 2011
Date Title
1/26/11 Dr. Coburn Co-Sponsors Bill to Repeal Job-Killing Tax on Medical Devices
1/24/11 Repealing the Federal Health Law Saves American Taxpayers Money
1/6/11 CBO’s Initial Findings On Repealing The Health Overhaul: Lower Premiums, Reduced Costs to Taxpayers
1/4/11 Laudable Provisions in Fiscal Commission Health Care Recommendations
December 2010
Date Title
12/22/10 Dr. Coburn Announces Agreement on 9/11 First Responders Bill
12/21/10 Detailed Outline of Dr. Coburn's Position on The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act
12/9/10 Congress’ End-Of-Year Spending Bill Empowers Bureaucrats and Funds The Controversial New Federal Health Care Law
12/9/10 Congress’ End-Of-Year Spending Bill Empowers Bureaucrats and Funds The Controversial New Federal Health Care Law
12/9/10 Dr. Coburn Calls CR/Omnibus a Trojan Horse to Fund New Health Law
November 2010
Date Title
11/30/10 Dr. Coburn Says Food Safety Bill Won’t Make Food Safer
11/23/10 Opposing view on food safety: Leverage the free market
11/17/10 Today, Dr. Coburn filed two amendments to the Food Safety bill
October 2010
Date Title
10/27/10 ObamaCare's ill effects starting to take hold
10/26/10 What Others Are Saying About "Grim Diagnosis"
10/25/10 Drs. Coburn and Barrasso Release New Health Care Report
10/4/10 HHS ADMINISTRATIVE FAILURE
September 2010
Date Title
9/29/10 Dr. Coburn Introduces Bill To Stop Medicare and Medicaid Fraud “FAST”
9/29/10 Dr. Coburn Introduces Bill To Stop Medicare and Medicaid Fraud “FAST”
9/24/10 Dr. Coburn Introduces Ensuring Greater Food Safety Act of 2010
9/23/10 Today, Dr. Coburn Cosponsored a Bill to Strike CLASS Act Provision in New Health Care Law
9/22/10 Dr. Coburn Again Calls on Majority Leader Reid to Bring Food Safety Bill to the Floor
9/16/10 Dr. Coburn Encourages Reid to Bring Food Safety Bill to the Floor
9/15/10 Detailed Concerns with S.510, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010
9/8/10 What Happens to Americans Without Health Insurance?
August 2010
Date Title
8/27/10 How Much Does the Federal Health Overhaul Cost States?
8/25/10 Dr. Coburn Requests HHS Secretary Sebelius Provide “Open And Transparent Accounting” Of How Americans’ Tax Dollars Are Spent
8/17/10 Dr. Coburn is original co-sponsor of the Health Care Bureaucrats Elimination Act, S.3653
8/11/10 Revealing New Study: Medicaid Patients More Likely to Die After Surgery, Have Longer Stay and Higher Costs
8/5/10 Coburn, Hatch Introduce Bill to Exclude Abortion Coverage from Health Care Law
8/5/10 First Findings From Medicare Trustees Report
8/3/10 Sens. Coburn, Barrasso, Burr, McCain & Thune Send Letter to Sec. Sebelius Questioning HHS Campaign Ad
July 2010
Date Title
7/21/10 Dr. Coburn Introduces Bill Prioritizing Treatment in Global AIDS Effort
7/21/10 Dr. Coburn Introduces Bill Prioritizing Treatment in Global AIDS Effort
7/7/10 Bad Medicine: a check-up on the new federal health law by Drs. Coburn & Barrasso
June 2010
Date Title
6/30/10 Sens. Coburn, Cornyn, Thune, McCain, and LeMieux Ask HHS OIG About Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Under the New Health Law
6/30/10 Some Americans Have Already Lost Their Health Coverage As a Result of the New Health Care Law
6/29/10 New Health Law: Cuts Nearly $530 Billion From Medicare For New Entitlement Program
6/20/10 Joint Committee on Taxation: Only 7% of Americans Receive Insurance Subsidy Under New Health Law
May 2010
Date Title
5/27/10 New CRS Memo Confirms: New Tax for Insured Americans, Free Care for Illegal Immigrants
5/20/10 A CDC Study Confirms Medicaid Patients are Twice as Likely as the Uninsured to Utilize Emergency Rooms as Their Primary Source of Treatment
5/12/10 The CMS Actuary released new analysis of the final version of the new federal health care law
5/5/10 Coburn Op-Ed: How the New Health Care Law will Impact Oklahoma
April 2010
Date Title
4/29/10 Key Study of U.S. Healthcare System: 1 out of 3 Dollars Goes to Waste
4/26/10 CRS Reports Explain the Effects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on Americans and Pre-existing Health Care Provisions
4/2/10 Members of Congress Get Special Treatment to Avoid Requirements of New Federal Health Care Law
March 2010
Date Title
3/15/10 "Dear Colleague" Letter: Majority of Physicians Reject Current Bills
January 2010
Date Title
1/29/10 Letter to President Obama from Sens. Coburn and Burr, Reps. Ryan and Nunes
December 2009
Date Title
12/19/09 Dr. Coburn Calls New Abortion Language a Fraud that Will Allow Taxpayer-Funded Abortion
12/16/09 Dr. Coburn Encourages Americans to Listen to Reading of Plan to Establish Government-run Single Payer Health Care
12/6/09 Senate Health Care Bill Costs Taxpayers $6.8 million per word
12/4/09 New CRS Report Shows Government Already Controls 60 percent of Health Care in the U.S.
October 2009
Date Title
10/28/09 Read the Congressional Budget Office’s letter to Rep. Paul Ryan, the lead House co-sponsor of the Patients’ Choice Act
10/14/09 Medicaid Malpractice: New CRS Memo Confirms Medicaid Patients Have Higher Rate of Infant Mortality
September 2009
Date Title
9/23/09 The Health Care Debate and What it Means to You
9/15/09 Health Reform Should Begin with Ending Fraud
9/10/09 Dr. Coburn’s Statement on President Obama’s Health Care Speech
August 2009
Date Title
8/10/09 Ten Questions Politicians Won’t Answer
July 2009
Date Title
7/15/09 Dr. Coburn Says HELP Committee Bill will do Grievous Harm to Patients and Economy
June 2009
Date Title
6/9/09 A Better Way to Reform Health Care
May 2009
Date Title
5/20/09 Senators Coburn, Burr and Representatives Ryan, Nunes Offer A Better Path Forward on Health Care Reform
5/12/09 Dr. Coburn to Introduce Comprehensive Health Care Bill Soon
July 2008
Date Title
7/30/08 NIH Director to Congress: Disease-Specific Mandates Undermine Potential for New Scientific Discoveries
May 2008
Date Title
5/22/08 African AIDS treatment advocates could force a hold on PEPFAR bill among US Senators
5/12/08 Death rate in Malawi falls by up to 35% due to free HIV treatment
5/6/08 STUDY: Nearly all babies born to mothers with HIV can be spared infection with treatment, yet 1,800 babies are infected with HIV each day
April 2008
Date Title
4/28/08 As Congress retreats on efforts to eliminate baby AIDS, a new study finds few pregnant women with HIV in poorer countries receiving treatment
November 2007
Date Title
11/2/07 Dr. Coburn Urges Politicians to Put Patients Ahead of Politics
11/1/07 Dr. Coburn Disappointed Senate Playing Politics with Kids’ Health
October 2007
Date Title
10/24/07 Children's Health Yields to the Senators From Pork
10/23/07 Dr. Coburn Chides Senate for Putting Pork Before Kids
10/17/07 Coburn Amendments to Labor/HHS/Education FY08 Appropriations Bill
10/4/07 Expanding SCHIP Is Move Toward Government-Run Health Care
September 2007
Date Title
9/24/07 Opinion: The new Hillarycare
9/11/07 Healthy Medical Reforms
9/9/07 Column: How the Swiss do health care
9/5/07 Editorial: Health Care and Taxes
9/4/07 Opinion: Backers of health plan for kids have other motives
August 2007
Date Title
8/18/07 Could your DNA get turned against you?
8/10/07 Editorial: Healthcare baby steps better than nothing
8/8/07 Coburn calls for privatizing health care
8/6/07 Column: Health insurance fight shows GOP in disarray
8/6/07 Editorial: Insurance bill boost for families
8/2/07 Editorial: SCHIP Shape?
8/1/07 Individual Freedom vs. Government Control
July 2007
Date Title
7/27/07 GOP senators seek universal health care
7/10/07 State funds would triple for children
7/8/07 Battle Takes Shape Over Expansion of Children's Insurance
June 2007
Date Title
6/29/07 Senate panel passes biogenerics bill
6/12/07 Dr. Coburn Releases Oversight Report on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
6/6/07 Opinion: Health Care Needs Market Forces
May 2007
Date Title
5/9/07 Dr. Coburn Applauds Passage Of Drug Safety Legislation
5/3/07 Senate to address biologics after finishing PDUFA debate
April 2007
Date Title
4/30/07 Editorial: Health Plan, Place to start
4/30/07 FDA Bill draws wider drug debate
4/24/07 Responsible Medicine
4/23/07 Drug Safety is goal of measure to revamp FDA fees, procedures
4/19/07 Senate HELP Committee Approves Revised PDUFA Bill
4/19/07 Kennedy: Generic Biotech Will Be In PDUFA Legislation
4/11/07 Freedom: Individuals should make health insurance decisions
4/11/07 Coburn Floats Health Plan - Senator emphasizes creating a system driven by consumers' choices
4/9/07 Editorial - Choice and Access: Coburn Care Plan Deserves Consideration
4/5/07 Health care reformers must remember the future
4/5/07 Government-run healthcare's dirty little secrets
4/4/07 Coburn has the right medicine for a sick health care system
March 2007
Date Title
3/30/07 Coburn Health Care Plan Involves Rebates, Prevention
3/23/07 Republican Rx
3/22/07 Britons desert private medical insurance market
3/22/07 Coburn Offers Plan on Health Coverage
3/21/07 Dr. Coburn Introduces Health Plan Promoting Universal Coverage, Access and Choice
3/16/07 Reauthorization of Health Act Vowed by Senate Committee
3/16/07 Senate Panel Jointly Looks at Safety Bill and PDUFA
3/8/07 Health costs will surge without better prevention
3/5/07 Spring markup likely in Senate for Tobacco regulation measure
3/2/07 Health care top domestic concern in U.S.: poll
3/2/07 Opinion: The Lost Window of Opportunity
February 2007
Date Title
2/27/07 Dr. Coburn Says Federal Inaction One Cause of HPV Epidemic
2/5/07 Editorial: To Our Health - Bush plan deserves serious study
2/1/07 Senate Likely to pass bill that would prevent genetic discrimination
January 2007
Date Title
1/25/07 Dr. Coburn, Senator Martinez Introduce Legislation to Make Health Care More Affordable and Accessible
1/11/07 Kennedy To Push For Universal Health Care
1/10/07 Congress mulls how to expand U.S. health insurance
November 2006
Date Title
11/1/06 Editorial: Holding firm
October 2006
Date Title
10/6/06 Major HIV/AIDS Oversight Action
10/1/06 Global AIDS Treatment Cost - Can we afford to treat 7 million as Dr. Coburn demands?
September 2006
Date Title
9/22/06 Dr. Coburn, AIDS Healthcare Foundation Back CDC’s New HIV Testing Guidelines
9/19/06 Doctor Tom's DDT Victory
9/15/06 WHO Lays Out DDT Strategy, Calling for Its Use Even Indoors
9/15/06 Senators Coburn, Burr and Sessions Call for More Equitable Ryan White CARE Act HIV/AIDS Funding
9/7/06 Analysis: Health plan merger a red flag?
9/1/06 Congress poised to renew Ryan White Act
August 2006
Date Title
8/14/06 Federal moratorium on new specialty hospitals ends
June 2006
Date Title
6/28/06 D.C. Kicks Off Anti-HIV Rally
6/20/06 Cantor to offer new HSA bill, easing tax concerns of right
6/9/06 Senators Coburn, DeMint, Vitter, Inhofe and Cornyn Introduce Legislation to Improve Health Savings Accounts
May 2006
Date Title
5/22/06 AIDS Vaccine Testing Goes Overseas
5/18/06 They'd Sooner Fix Medicaid
5/4/06 Editorial: Prodigal State
April 2006
Date Title
4/21/06 How To Stop Medicaid Fraud
March 2006
Date Title
3/29/06 Hearing Addresses CMS' Efforts To Control Medicaid Fraud
December 2005
Date Title
12/14/05 Dr. Coburn letter to HHS on Ryan White CARE Act formulas and ADAP funding
November 2005
Date Title
11/10/05 Dr. Coburn Says New FDA Condom Regulations Make Inconclusive, Exaggerated Claims About Condom Effectiveness
July 2005
Date Title
7/27/05 Dr. Coburn Praises Bush Administration’s Ryan White CARE Act Reauthorization Plan
June 2005
Date Title
6/30/05 Dr. Coburn Praises President Bush’s New Initiative to Combat Malaria

Floor Statements & Speeches

July 2013
Date Title
7/30/13 Obamacare Will Only End With Full Repeal
February 2013
Date Title
2/11/13 Dr. Coburn on S. 47, the Violence Against Women Act: Washington Duplication and Incompetence Blocks Justice For Victims
September 2012
Date Title
9/21/12 Coburn on Lack of Leadership in Congress: America Deserves Better
May 2012
Date Title
5/23/12 Dr. Coburn Calling Up Amendments to the FDA User Fee Bill
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