Rogers: Taxing Doctors Hurts Michigan Citizens

Congressmen Rogers, Camp, Hoekstra, Miller, Upton Appeal to Governor

FRIDAY, October 16, 2009 – U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, MI-08, led a letter to Gov. Granholm opposing a plan to add an additional tax to physicians’ practices in Michigan.

The letter, signed by Rogers and four other Michigan Republican members of Congress, calls on the Governor to oppose the plan to levy an additional financial burden on Michigan residents and their health care needs.

“You can’t make health care more affordable in Michigan’s struggling economy by increasing taxes on doctors; eventually patients will be the ones who suffer not only from illness or injury, but also from  higher health care costs and limited access to a doctor’s care,” Rogers said.

The letter is signed by Rogers and Reps. Dave Camp, Pete Hoekstra, Candice Miller and Fred Upton.

“This tax will have a devastating impact on access to care for patients and their families,” the letter says. “It would punish more than 28,000 physicians for providing care while also further discouraging young doctors from practicing in Michigan.”

The letter closes by asking Granholm “to oppose physician tax increases and instead provide leadership to strengthen Medicaid, expand access to care for low-income citizens, and give doctors the resources they need to provide high-quality care.”