WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2009
WSLC applauds House health reform bill

The following statement was released this afternoon:

WASHINGTON STATE LABOR COUNCIL APPLAUDS HOUSE HEALTH REFORM LEGISLATION, URGES STATE DELEGATION'S SUPPORT

Statement by Rick S. Bender, President, Washington State Labor Council
Wednesday, July 15, 2009

The Washington State Labor Council applauds the historic action by leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives to fix our nation's broken health care system.  With this week's release of America’s Affordable Health Choices Act, the House Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor committees deserve our thanks for their excellent work and particularly for coordinating their committees' efforts to produce a single bill that can -- and should -- advance smoothly and quickly.

The House legislation meets President Obama’s goals by controlling runaway health care costs, offering the American people real choices and expanding access to quality health care.  It has a high-quality public health insurance plan that provides real choices and real competition for private insurance from day one.  It calls on corporations to pay their fair share.  Like the president’s proposal, it calls on those who can afford it to contribute to funding health coverage expansion -- in the House bill through a modest tax surcharge.  It does not ask the American people to pay more for what they already have.  In fact, this legislation offers the real promise of improving quality, increasing access and reducing costs, all at the same time.

The Washington State Labor Council urges all members of Washington's delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives to actively support this legislation and to vigorously resist attempts to dilute this bill during the legislative process.  We call on Congress to act swiftly on health care reform and deliver much needed relief to working families.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2009
House Democrats introduce health care reform bill
Bill covers 97% of Americans, embodies President Obama's goals of lower costs, more choices, and access to quality, affordable care

The following press release was distributed Tuesday by Democratic committee leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives (several quotes by committee members have been removed so we won't exceed our server's memory capacity, but you can read them here):

WASHINGTON , D.C. – The Chairmen of the three Committees with jurisdiction over health policy in the U.S. House of Representatives introduced comprehensive health care reform legislation today that will reduce out-of-control costs, encourage competition among insurance plans to improve choices for patients, and expand access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans.  

The legislation is consistent with President Obama's overall goals of building on what works within the current health care system by strengthening employer-provided care, while fixing what is broken. The bill will ensure that 97 percent of Americans will be covered by a health care plan that is both affordable and offers quality, standard benefits.

The House Committees on Education and Labor, Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce have been working together in an unprecedented way as one committee to develop the proposal for health care reform. This week each of the three committees will be marking up the legislation, allowing for continued input from members of Congress and the American people.

The key principles of legislation include, among other things:

Increasing choice and competition. First, the bill will protect and improve consumers’ choices.

• If an individual likes their current plan, they will 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 will 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 will reduce costs, create competition that leads to better care for every American, and keep private insurers honest. Patients and doctors will have control over decisions about their health care, instead of insurance companies.  

Giving Americans peace of mind. Second, the legislation will ensure that Americans have portable, secure health care plans – so that they won’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 will end increases in premiums or denials of care based on pre-existing conditions, age, race, or gender.

• The proposal will 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 legislation will 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 will 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 bill will ensure that individuals, employers, and the federal government all share responsibility for a quality and affordable health care system.

• Employers who currently offer coverage will be able to continue offering coverage to workers. Employers who don't currently offer coverage could choose to cover their workers 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 will 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 legislation will 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 in order to protect consumers, answer questions, and assist with any problems related to their plans.

• Will identify and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse by simplifying paperwork and other administrative burdens. Patients, doctors, nurses, insurance companies, providers, and employers will all encounter a streamlined, less confusing, more consumer friendly system.

Please click on the following links to view text of the legislation as well as background information and summaries of various provisions:

America's Affordable Health Choices Act: Complete Bill Text (HR 3200)
America's Affordable Health Choices Act: Summary

Summary and Description of Revenue Provisions in HR 3200

What's In the Health Care Reform Bill for You?
Controlling Health Care Costs
Paying for Health Care Reform

The Health Insurance Exchange
Public Health Insurance Option
Shared Responsibility
Guaranteed Benefits

Making Coverage Affordable
Consumer Protections and Insurance Market Reforms
Strengthening the Nation's Health Workforce
Delivery System Reform

Protecting Program Integrity by Preventing Waste, Fraud and Abuse
Strengthening Medicare
Improving the Medicare Part D Drug Program
Maintaining and Improving Medicaid
Preventing Disease and Improving the Public's Health

^{Copyright © 2009 --  Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO}