ABC Sept. 10 criticized President Obama’s health care reforms calling current proposals a “step in the wrong direction” for their lack of free-market solutions that will improve the quality and lower the costs of health insurance. In a speech Sept. 9 to a joint session of Congress, the president reiterated his support for a not-for-profit public option and a mandate on businesses to either provide health insurance to workers or pay fines or payroll taxes.
“On behalf of America’s commercial and industrial construction contractors, we believe that creating a new, government-run health insurance plan and mandating a ‘pay or play’ provision on business owners, is a step in the wrong direction,” said ABC President and CEO Kirk Pickerel. “We are eager to work with Congress to reform the health care system with free-market solutions because consumers are better off when there is a choice and competition.”
ABC, along with 3,159 organizations and businesses, Sept. 9 signed onto a letter sent by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to all members of Congress that echoed Pickerel’s concerns and pointed out that current legislation would not improve the parts of the system that are weak, but jeopardize the parts that are working.
“We believe genuine health care reform must include association health plans for small businesses and their employees, tax credits to help low-income workers buy insurance, expand health savings accounts, medical liability reform that will reduce health care costs and ensure patients have the doctors and care they need, and improve information technology to prevent medical errors and needless costs,” said Pickerel.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) Sept 16 released his comprehensive health care reform bill that does not have a public option or an employer “pay or play” mandate but instead includes a “free-rider” provision that imposes penalties on companies whose employees’ are covered by Medicaid or who purchase insurance using government subsidies. The committee is expected to begin mark-up of the legislation Sept. 22. In addition to that bill, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions July 15 passed another version of health care reform out of the committee. The U.S. House of Representatives’ is currently to working to combine three different versions of their health care proposals into a single bill.
For more information on health care reform and tips on how to make your voice heard, access ABC’s online toolkit at
www.abc.org/healthcare.