Van Hollen Applauds American Solution for Quality, Affordable Health Care
Washington,
Jun 19, 2009 -
Today, Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Assistant to the Speaker, issued the following statement on House Committee Chairmen’s Draft Health Care Reform Proposal:
“Today, the Chairmen of the House Committees on Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means released their draft proposal to reform our health care system and ensure affordable, quality health care for all Americans. It is an unprecedented effort on behalf of these committees, and the proposal will reduce costs to consumers, protect current coverage, and preserve the choice of doctors, hospitals, and health plans. This is the single best tool to reduce our deficit, rein in out of control health care spending, and put us on a path to fiscal responsibility.
“President Obama, Congressional leaders and the American people are united in the need to fix our current health care system. With the average American family already paying an extra $1,100 in premiums every year for a broken system that supports 46 million uninsured Americans, the status quo is simply not an option. I hope our Republican colleagues will join us in getting our economy back on track and providing an American solution for quality, affordable health care.”
The key principles of the House Democratic discussion draft for health care include:
Increasing choice and competition. First, the proposal would protect and improve consumers’ choices.
· If an individual likes their current plan, they would be able to keep it.
· For individuals who either aren’t currently covered, or wanted to enroll in a new health care plan, the proposal would establish a health care exchange where consumers can select from a menu of affordable, quality health care options: either a new public health insurance plan or a plan offered by private insurers. People will have similar choices that Members of Congress have.
· This new marketplace would reduce costs, create competition that leads to better care for every American, and keep private insurers honest. Patients and doctors would have control over decisions about their health care, instead of insurance companies.
Giving Americans peace of mind. Second, the proposal would ensure that Americans have portable, secure health care plans – so that they wouldn’t lose care if their employer drops their plan or they lose their job.
· Every American who receives coverage through the exchange will have a plan that includes standardized, comprehensive and quality health care benefits.
· It would end increases in premiums or denials of care based on pre-existing conditions, age, race or gender.
· The proposal would also eliminate co-pays for preventative care, cap out-of-pocket expenses and guarantee catastrophic coverage that protects every American from bankruptcy.
Improving quality of care for every American. Third, the proposal would ensure that Americans of all ages, from young children to retirees, have access to greater quality of care by focusing on prevention, wellness and strengthening programs that work.
· Guarantees that every child in America will have health care coverage that includes dental and vision benefits.
· Provides better preventative and wellness care. Every health care plan offered through the exchange would cover preventative care.
· Grows the health care workforce to ensure that more doctors and nurses are available to provide quality care as more Americans get coverage.
· Strengthens Medicare and Medicaid so that seniors and low-income Americans receive better quality of care and see lower prescription drug costs and out-of-pocket expenses.
Ensuring shared responsibility. Fourth, the draft would ensure that individuals, employers and the federal government all share responsibility for a quality and affordable health care system.
· Employers who currently offer coverage would be able to continue offering coverage to workers. Employers who don’t currently offer coverage could choose to pay for their workers to gain health care coverage through the exchange or pay a penalty.
· All individuals would be required to get coverage, either through their employer or the exchange, or pay a penalty.
· The federal government would provide affordability credits, available on a sliding scale for low- and middle-income individuals and families to make premiums affordable and reduce cost-sharing.
Protecting consumers and reducing waste, fraud and abuse. Fifth, the proposal would put the interests of consumers first, protect them from any problems in getting and keeping health care coverage, and reduce waste, fraud and abuse.
· Provides complete transparency in plans in the health exchange so that consumers have the clear, complete information needed to select the plan that best meets their needs.
· Establishes Consumer Advocacy Offices as part of the exchange to protect consumers, answer questions and assist with any problems related to their plans.
· Would identify and eliminate waste, fraud and abuse by simplifying paperwork and other administrative burdens. Patients, doctors, nurses, insurance companies, providers and employers would all encounter a streamlined, less confusing, more consumer friendly system.
To view a complete summary of the discussion draft, click here.
Congressman Chris Van Hollen
