Rep. Michael Burgess, who also is a medical doctor, slammed Democrats' call for Medicare for all coverage, saying the program would not allow Americans to keep any of the options they already know.
"Just think back to the good old days, like, if you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor," the Texas Republican told Fox News' "Fox and Friends" early Tuesday before members of the House Rules Committee were to begin their first congressional hearing for Medicare-for-all legislation. "All health insurance, all private health insurance as we know it is gone. Medicare as we know it is gone. Medicare Advantage is gone. It's just absolutely stunning when you read through it."
He said the takeover legislation has "never been tried before on this scale," and he's concerned, as a doctor about the ramifications should the plan become law.
"Look, if I have a new treatment that I want to offer a patient, I have to do a randomized clinical trial," said Burgess. "I have to show it's not going to kill too many people when I administer it. None of that is required with this. Just by congressional fiat, we are going to change healthcare in this country."
He also pointed out that since President Donald Trump was inaugurated, 2.5 million more people are working and have employer-sponsored insurance who did not have it before.
"This is a great success of the Trump administration," said Burgess. "I don't know why we don't talk about it more."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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