Speaking at town hall meeting in Bledsoe County today, U.S. Senator Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said the Senate Finance Committee’s health care bill could raise the cost of health insurance for some Tennesseans by as much as 60 percent. Earlier in the day, Corker shared a similar message at stops in Warren and Van Buren counties.

A study by Oliver Wyman, and sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of America, shows an expected 60 percent increase in average claims over five years when the proposed reforms are fully implemented. Tennessee is among several states that would experience large rate increases under the health insurance reforms included in the Senate Finance proposal.

“The mission of Congress and the Obama administration should be the same as a doctor treating a patient: DO NO HARM, so I’m totally bewildered when I see that a bill will cost tax payers almost a trillion dollars and actually result in HIGHER health care costs for millions of Tennesseans,” said Corker. “There’s strong evidence that the Senate Finance Committee bill – which most believe is the basis for a final health reform product – would raise premiums by 60 percent.”

Page 13 of the Wyman report indicates “cluster 4” states, including Tennessee, will see a 60 percent expected increase in average claims per member. According to data based on the report, current average premiums in Tennessee would increase by $1,619 for individuals and $3,727 for families under reforms in the Finance bill.

Corker, who spent the majority of his time on health insurance issues as Tennessee commissioner of finance in 1995-96, voiced his strong support for responsible health care reform, including a permanent solution to the way doctors are reimbursed for treating Medicare patients, but said he was fervently opposed to S. 1776, a two-page bill that would have added $246.9 billion to the deficit as a quid pro quo to buy the American Medical Association’s support of health care reform. A procedural vote to move forward with formal consideration of S. 1776 failed 43-57 last Wednesday, October 21.

“While I strongly believe in health care reform that will stand the test of time, Americans should recognize last week’s vote as the first test of the health care debate, a test that the Obama administration and Democratic leaders flunked. Right out of the gate they offered a two-page bill that adds $246.9 billion to our deficit as a quid pro quo to buy the American Medical Association’s support of health care reform. Fortunately, 13 of my Democratic colleagues recognized what a sinister piece of legislation this was and voted against it.

“If this first vote is a sign of what’s to come, all Americans should keep their antennas up and continue to watch very closely as the health care debate unfolds.”

“No one has voiced stronger support for a permanent solution to the ‘SGR’ or ‘doc fix’ issue that has left every Congress since 2002 scrambling to prevent drastic pay cuts to physicians who treat Medicare patients, and I have continually expressed frustration that the health care reform bills before Congress ignore the problem and continue to kick the can down the road. It’s irresponsible and our seniors, and the doctors who care for them, deserve better,” said Corker.

“However, I find this bill, which eliminates one payment model without replacing it with another and adds $246.9 billion to the debt piling on future generations, to be one of the most sinister, selfish and short-sighted solutions I have seen in my two years and 10 months in Washington.

“I’m also bewildered that President Obama continues to say, so disingenuously, that health care reform won’t add ‘one penny’ to our deficit, when this provision alone will add $246.9 billion.”

“In addition to pushing off problems to another Congress and debt to future generations, the health care reform bill pushes a huge unfunded mandate off to states,” continued Corker. “For example, Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen estimates that the Senate Finance Committee’s bill would cost Tennessee $735 million over the first five years in Medicaid expansion, a huge unfunded mandate that creates a very difficult situation for our state. My guess is that most other states would face a similarly painful situation if these costs are passed down.

“The bill also seeks to take $404 billion away from Medicare, which is predicted to be insolvent by 2017, and leverages it to create a new entitlement program rather than using it to make Medicare more solvent. I honestly don’t know how Congress has moved from broad, bipartisan concern over Medicare’s $30-40 trillion in unfunded liabilities – liabilities that threaten our country’s financial stability – to now embracing a proposal that would take cuts made to Medicare and use them to leverage a new program to cover the uninsured, rather than putting the funds toward extending the life of Medicare.

“Like most Americans, I want to see responsible health care reform but paying for it by sending unfunded mandates to states, taking money from Medicare to fund new federal entitlements, and passing off costs to future generations does not pass the common sense test.

“The people who came before us are often called the Greatest Generation because of their military efforts overseas and sacrifices here at home. If the political leadership in this country continues to throw future generations under the bus to score a political victory, we will be known as the Selfish Generation, and the wrath of the American people is going to come upon us, and it should.”