Whitfield Explains Reform Struggles MOREHEAD (Kentucky Public Radio) -

A western Kentucky congressman says fellow Republicans want to work with Democrats on changes to the nation's health care system. However, Ed Whitfield adds GOP lawmakers fear the majority party is not ready to compromise.

Whitfield says some reforms advocated by Democrats are more than Republicans can swallow. Among them, he says, are proposed cuts to medicare advantage, a supplemental program for seniors and a sur-tax on small businesses.

Whitfield says Republicans are not against health care reform, just changes that make the system more complex, less efficient and more costly. Democrats say the current system is already complicated, inefficient and costly, and their reforms will address those shortcomings.

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