President Obama Address 06/13/2009

[0:01] ..." spoke to you about my commitment to work with congress to pass health care reform this year. Today have -- to speak about how that effort is essential to restoring fiscal responsibility. When it comes to the"...

[1:47] ..." to yawning deficits that we can't control. So let me be clear health care reform is not part of the problem when it comes to our fiscal future it's a fundamental part of the solution. Real reform will mean reductions in our long term budget. And I've made a firm commitment that health care reform will not add to the federal deficit over the next decade. To keep that commitment my administration has already identified how to pay for the historic 635. Billion dollar down payment on reform detailed in our budget. This includes over 300 billion dollars that we will save through changes like reducing Medicare overpayments to private insurers. And rooting out waste in Medicare and Medicaid. However any honest accounting must prepare for the fact that health care reform or acquire additional cost in the short term in order to reduce spending in the long term. So today I'm announcing an additional. 313. Billion dollars in savings that will rein in unnecessary spending and increase efficiency and the quality of care. Savings that will ensure the we have nearly 950. Billion dollars set aside to offset the cost of health care reform over the next ten years. These savings will come from common sense changes. For example if more Americans are in short we can cut payments that help hospitals treat patients without health insurance. If the drug makers pay their fair share we can cut government spending on prescription drugs. And if doctors have incentives to provide the best care instead of more care. We can help Americans avoid the unnecessary hospital"...

[0:00]" Last week I spoke to you about my commitment to work with congress to pass health care reform this year. Today have -- to speak about how that effort is essential to restoring fiscal responsibility. When it comes to the cost of health care this much is clear the status quo is unsustainable for families businesses and government. America spends nearly 50% more per person on health care than any other country. Health care premiums have doubled over the last decade deductibles and out of pocket costs have skyrocketed. And many would pre existing conditions are denied coverage. More and more Americans are being priced out of the care they need. These costs are also hurting business as some big businesses are at a competitive disadvantage with the foreign counterparts. And some small businesses are forced to cut benefits dropped coverage or even lay off workers. Meanwhile Medicare and Medicaid -- one of the greatest threats work federal deficit and could leave our children with a mountain of debt that they cannot pay. We cannot continue down this path. I don't accept a future where Americans for -- health care because they can't pay for and more and more families go without coverage at all. I don't accept a future where American businesses hurt our government goes broke. We have a responsibility to act and act now. That's why I'm working with congress to pass reform that lowers costs improves quality and coverage and protects consumer health care choices. I know some question whether we can afford to act this year. But the unmistakable truth is it would be irresponsible to not act. We can't keep shifting a growing burden to future generations. With each passing year health care cost consume a larger share of our nation's spending and contribute to yawning deficits that we can't control. So let me be clear health care reform is not part of the problem when it comes to our fiscal future it's a fundamental part of the solution. Real reform will mean reductions in our long term budget. And I've made a firm commitment that health care reform will not add to the federal deficit over the next decade. To keep that commitment my administration has already identified how to pay for the historic 635. Billion dollar down payment on reform detailed in our budget. This includes over 300 billion dollars that we will save through changes like reducing Medicare overpayments to private insurers. And rooting out waste in Medicare and Medicaid. However any honest accounting must prepare for the fact that health care reform or acquire additional cost in the short term in order to reduce spending in the long term. So today I'm announcing an additional. 313. Billion dollars in savings that will rein in unnecessary spending and increase efficiency and the quality of care. Savings that will ensure the we have nearly 950. Billion dollars set aside to offset the cost of health care reform over the next ten years. These savings will come from common sense changes. For example if more Americans are in short we can cut payments that help hospitals treat patients without health insurance. If the drug makers pay their fair share we can cut government spending on prescription drugs. And if doctors have incentives to provide the best care instead of more care. We can help Americans avoid the unnecessary hospital stays treatments and tests that drive up costs. For more details about these and other savings you can visit our website www. Whitehouse dot -- These savings underscore the fact that securing quality affordable health care for the American people is tied directly to insisting upon fiscal responsibility. And these savings are rooted in the same principle that must guide our broader approach to reform. We will fix what's broken while building upon what works. If you like your plan and your doctor you can keep them. The only changes the you'll see are lower costs and better health care. For too long we've stood by while our health care system sprayed at the -- While there's been excuse after excuse to delay reform the price of care has gone up for individuals for business and for the government. This time must be different. This is the moment when we must reform health care so that we can build a new foundation for our economy to grow. For people to thrive and for our country to pursue a responsible. And sustainable path. --"