The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will hurt business owners, adds uncertainty to the health care market and will increase the cost of health care.

Those were the main points Rep. Rick Berg, R-N.D., made at a Tuesday press conference in Bismarck while calling for repealing the act. Last weeks highly anticipated ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court has led to Berg and other Republicans to call for the federal health care law to be struck down by Congress.

Citing the cost of the laws implementation over the next 10 years, Berg called it a $1.8 trillion takeover of our health care system. He said the laws provisions will make it difficult for small business owners who provide health care to their employees to continue to do so. Berg said there also is a negative financial impact on the public.

This is really a legacy of debt for our children and grandchildren, Berg said. It creates uncertainty throughout America. Its wrong for patients, its wrong for doctors, its wrong for seniors, its wrong for North Dakota, its wrong for America.

Dick Hedahl, owner of Hedahls Auto Plus in Bismarck, spoke about the potential impacts of the federal health care law on employee insurance.

Weve had health insurance for our employees for 55 years, Hedahl said.

Hedahl said the company has had its own health wellness program since 1992. This program, he said, has cut health care costs and promoted health among employees. Hedahl said provisions in the federal law could lead to cost increases in his companys insurance program.

It may cause us to drop our coverage, Hedahl said.

Jeff Neuberger, chief executive officer of Mid Dakota Clinic, said the law doesnt address the cost of health care. He said provisions such as the individual mandate make insurance more costlyfor the public.

It actually encourages people to consume more health care services, Neuberger said.

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Berg calls for health care law repeal