KCBD, NewsChannel 11 Lubbock |NewsChannel 11 asks Senator John Cornyn where he stands on healthcare debate

NewsChannel 11 asks Senator John Cornyn where he stands on healthcare debate

By Ann Wyatt Little  - bio | email

LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) - Healthcare continues to lead the debate in Washington, so where do the officials you sent there stand?

Healthcare was just one of several topics NewsChannel 11 asked the senator about. He says there is no one size fits all solution for reforming the health care system and knows that the rising cost of care is a concern for West Texans. "We need to have a safety net for people who cannot afford to pay.  That is why Medicaid and the Children's health insurance program are good. We need to bring down costs to make it  more affordable so more people can pay for it and buy the coverage they need," says Senator Cornyn.

We asked him what he wants to see in a healthcare reform bill. "To be able to purchase insurance across state lines. To give more flexibility or choices to individuals for type of coverage they have as well as medical liability reform and realigning incentives to both encourage providers to provide value rather than volume. Finally, to make sure people are encouraged to take better care of themselves," adds the Senator Cornyn.

The Senate voted Wednesday to block a Medicare reimbursement bill that Cornyn says would have added close to $300 billion to the national deficit. He says he supports the idea of the reimbursement program just not at the expense of adding to the deficit. Senator Cornyn says he and his colleagues are waiting for the bill they will vote on to be finalized and hopes Congress will post it online for Americans to read. Next month he expects a lengthy debate on the senate floor.

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