U.S. Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. 26th District of Texas


  • Value of individual coverage mandates questioned
    Oct 26, 2009  - Large-scale individual mandates aren't necessarily the most effective way to get people to enroll in health insurance, a panel of experts said during a meeting held by the Congressional Health Care Caucus. Such a mandate, which is under consideration as a component of healthcare reform, “is prob... More
  • Letter to the Editor: Congressman supports kidney bill
    Oct 20, 2009  - Dear Editor, I agree with Kerry Solan’s “Medicare policy needs revision” op-ed piece on Oct. 13 that changes are needed to the Medicare policy regarding kidney transplant patients. There are a lot of misaligned incentives in the Medicare program, and this is one of them, which is why I think... More
  • Fix is in—they hope
    Oct 19, 2009  - In the race to get health reforms approved by the end of the year, doctors and other healthcare lobbying groups are hoping that Medicare’s physician payment fix will be the first to cross the finish line. But as the Senate moves to consider a bill on the floor next week to remove the troublesome... More
  • Letter to the Editor: Debating Medical Price and Outcome Transparency
    Oct 14, 2009  - Your article "Hospitals Find Way to Make Care Cheaper—Make It Better" (page one, Oct. 6) addresses a serious problem that deserves a bipartisan solution, and I'm happy to report that it may be getting one. Knowing the facts about health-care pricing empowers consumers to make decisions that prod... More
  • Taxpayer Watchdog Group Names Nine Texas Reps "Taxpayer Heroes"
    Oct 13, 2009  - The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) today honored nine members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas as Taxpayer Heroes for their high scores in the group`s 2008 Congressional Ratings: Joe Barton with 83 percent; Kevin Brady with 80 percent, Michael Burgess with 91 pe... More
  • House lawmakers, Obama officials to meet on reform
    Oct 6, 2009  - Republican representatives are taking the opportunity to meet with House leadership and Obama administration officials this week to discuss their views and concerns on healthcare reform. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters he intended to “carry on conversations with my Repub... More
  • Texas lawmaker offers replacement for SGR
    Oct 2, 2009  - A bill calling for ending the use of the Sustainable Growth Rate formula to set Medicare payments to physicians and replacing it with a new formula linked to the Medicare Economic Index has been submitted by Rep. Michael Burgess, (R-Texas). The bill, called the “Ensuring the Future Physician Wor... More
  • GOP congressman wants details on Obama's deals with health industry
    Oct 1, 2009  - A Republican physician in Congress has asked the White House to disclose more details regarding healthcare reform negotiations between the administration and hospital and pharmaceutical groups. ''It has now been over four months since the White House announced numerous deals with major stakehold... More
  • House Energy and Commerce Committee Approves Transparency Amendment to HR 3200
    Sep 25, 2009  - The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee voted 51-0 to include an amendment to the House' healthcare reform bill, HR 3200, that would require greater price transparency from hospitals and health insurers, according to a news release from the American Hospital Association. Under the amendment... More
  • House buys Peterbilt hybrid truck
    Sep 24, 2009  - In a bid to be more environmentally conscious, officials from the U.S. House of Representatives recently purchased a diesel-electric hybrid truck from the Denton-based Peterbilt Motors Co. plant. The Model 330 Hybrid Electric Truck is intended to carry thousands of pounds of furniture and office... More