Schwartz on Health Care Bill

From the inbox:

Today, Democrats in Congress introduced America’s Affordable Health Choices Act, comprehensive health reform legislation. This legislation was developed from the three committees of jurisdiction, Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor. These three panels with jurisdiction over health policy have worked jointly to develop a single bill that fulfills President Obama’s goals of establishing a uniquely American solution to health reform.

As a Member of the Ways and Means Committee, U.S. Rep. Schwartz (PA-13) played a significant role in drafting this legislation over the last months, including working to ensure that health reform legislation is built on American assets of innovation, competition, public-private choices, and shared responsibility. Schwartz is a leading centrist Democrat, serving as vice chair of the New Democratic Coalition, and co-chairing the Coalition’s Health Care Task Force.

“The introduction of America’s Affordable Health Choices Act marks tremendous progress toward meaningful health care reform for Americans. This plan sets the right course for creating a uniquely American solution to health reform that contains costs and achieves access to affordable, stable coverage for all Americans,” said U.S. Rep. Schwartz. “Reform must be fiscally responsible, contain health care costs, protect and increase consumers’ choices, strengthen coverage stability, and guarantee access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans,” said Schwartz.

Schwartz authored core provisions included in the House’s legislation to increase access to primary care and strengthen consumer protections in the private market, both of which are key to improving the quality, efficiency and cost of care, and improving health outcomes.

Specifically, these provisions will increase the number of primary care doctors and nurses, increase reimbursement for primary care, and improve continuity of care for patients. Co-payments for prevention and primary care for Medicare beneficiaries will be eliminated. Market reform provisions authored by Schwartz will substantially benefit American consumers, both those currently with coverage and those who are uninsured or under-insured. Schwartz successfully included in the bill provisions ensuring that insurance companies would no longer be permitted to exclude coverage of pre-existing conditions and will be required to explain coverage in plain language.

Economic competitiveness for American businesses, large and small, requires action to level the playing field, provide fairness in financing, and reduce the rate of cost growth in health care. To support small businesses, Schwartz advanced provisions to assist small businesses with tax credits for health benefits and enable them to participate at reduced levels in health reform if they do not provide benefits.

“As Members of Congress, we all have a shared responsibility to the American public to find ways to contain health care costs for families, businesses and the government, while ensuring that every American has access to affordable, meaningful coverage,” said Schwartz.

Schwartz added, “The current status quo is unacceptable and unsustainable. Health reform is both a moral and an economic imperative, and now is the time to act.”

Thomas (www.thomas.gov/) doesn't have the bill listed yet but it should be there tomorrow.