Tuesday
Jun232009
House Democrats Say Health Reform Will Foster Competition
Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 5:20PM
By Michael Combier-Talk Radio News Service
House Democrats want to dramatically reduce the costs of health care by establishing competition in the market place between private and public insurers while expanding coverage across the United States.
A full committee of the House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing Tuesday to discuss "The House Tri-Committee Draft for Health Care Reform," an 800 page document which was released on Friday.
"No one can argue that our nation's current health care path is sustainable...The one thing that is 'off the table' is saying 'No' to health care reform," said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), Chair of the Committee.
By opening areas in the U.S. to new competition, Democrats argue it will result in more transparency, and will make health care in general more affordable.
U.S. Rep. Robert E. Andrews (D-N.J.) said "there is insufficient competition" in the current health care system. With better competition, the consumer will receive "higher quality, more choice and lower costs," added Andrews.
Under the proposed reform, private insurance plans will compete with non-profit public competitors.
Republican members of the Committee complained about the fast pace taken by Democrats to pass the reform, and expressed concerns over a health care system administered by the federal government.
Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), said "there have been no greater negative impact than the intrusion of the federal government into health care," referring to Medicare and Medicaid, programs that were put in place by President Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1960’s.
House Democrats want to dramatically reduce the costs of health care by establishing competition in the market place between private and public insurers while expanding coverage across the United States.
A full committee of the House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing Tuesday to discuss "The House Tri-Committee Draft for Health Care Reform," an 800 page document which was released on Friday.
"No one can argue that our nation's current health care path is sustainable...The one thing that is 'off the table' is saying 'No' to health care reform," said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), Chair of the Committee.
By opening areas in the U.S. to new competition, Democrats argue it will result in more transparency, and will make health care in general more affordable.
U.S. Rep. Robert E. Andrews (D-N.J.) said "there is insufficient competition" in the current health care system. With better competition, the consumer will receive "higher quality, more choice and lower costs," added Andrews.
Under the proposed reform, private insurance plans will compete with non-profit public competitors.
Republican members of the Committee complained about the fast pace taken by Democrats to pass the reform, and expressed concerns over a health care system administered by the federal government.
Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.), said "there have been no greater negative impact than the intrusion of the federal government into health care," referring to Medicare and Medicaid, programs that were put in place by President Lyndon B. Johnson in the 1960’s.
Reader Comments (2)
As we know, the public option currently being discussed is modeled after Massachusetts Plan, under which about 97% of all Massachusetts residents are now covered. However, in recent estimates, CBO left out two crucial features, including a 'public health insurance option' and 'employer mandate and an individual mandate'. The estimates with 'no employer mandate and an individual mandate' ended up with 36 million uninsured.
By contrast, in case the proposed provisions with respect to the strong public option, medical IT, increased efforts in prevention, and a broader array of cost-saving plans and beyond add to the Massachusetts Plan with the provision of employer mandate and an individual mandate, the cost containment does not matter at all. And most importantly, the promising stem cell research is making its way.
To date, private insurers have coexisted profitably with Medicare and Medicaid for many years.
Basically, healthy society leads to better productivity and better performance.
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