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Health Care Reform Hearing

The House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing on Tuesday, June 23 on the draft proposal for health care reform developed by the House Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor Committees. The draft proposal is designed to achieve President Obama’s goals of controlling health care costs, preserving health care choices, and ensuring access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans. More...

Today, we will examine the House Tri-Committee discussion draft for health care reform.

This hearing marks the next step in our critical and historic effort to guarantee all Americans access to quality, affordable health care.

UNSUSTAINABLE COSTS TO FAMILIES

No one can argue that our nation’s current health care path is sustainable. Premiums and health care costs have skyrocketed for families and businesses alike.

In today’s system, insurance company bureaucrats hold all the power. They get to decide whether to cover the care a doctor recommends for their patient.

They can deny coverage or delay treatment based on a pre-existing condition – sending millions of people into devastating debt and prolonging anxiety or suffering from unattended care.

PORTABILITY

Americans with health care are deeply concerned that their employer may scale back or cancel their coverage, and that if they lose their job they will lose their health insurance too.

COST OF UNINSURED

The cost of the 47 million uninsured people in our country is also unsustainable. Lack of coverage jeopardizes not only their personal health but our nation’s economic condition.

The uninsured cost the rest of us about $1,100 extra per year per family in higher premiums.

These numerous and serious weaknesses in our health care system have combined to deliver a crushing blow to America’s families, businesses and our country’s fiscal future.
TRI-COMMITTEE DRAFT PROPOSAL

Last Friday, the three committees of jurisdiction unveiled our discussion draft for health care reform.

It reflects months of hard work and extensive meetings with Democrats and Republicans, Senators, the Congressional Budget Office, Administration officials, and stakeholders, engaged in an open and collaborative process.

Consistent with President Obama’s goals, our draft builds on what works and fixes what’s broken in our current system.

It lays the foundation for an American solution that will reduce costs, guarantee choice of doctors and plans, and ensure access to affordable, quality health care for all.

For Americans just beginning to pay attention to the health care debate, here are critical ways that our reforms will directly help you and your family:

• Our proposed reforms will cover at least 95 percent of Americans.
• If you like your doctor or health plan, you can keep them.
• You won’t have to worry about coverage if your employer drops it or you lose your job.
• Co-pays for preventive care won’t exist.
• Premiums or coverage will not be based on pre-existing conditions, gender, or occupation.
• You will have the choice of a high-quality, affordable public health insurance plan.
• And, your doctors and nurses will have access to the best information to offer you individualized care.

REDUCE COSTS

Our draft will drive down health care costs in several ways.

First, it ensures competition in the marketplace by establishing a new health insurance exchange that includes a strong public health insurance option that will compete on a level playing field and keep insurance companies honest. This will lower costs for everyone.

Second, it trims costs by simplifying paperwork and preventing waste, fraud and abuse.

Third – and most importantly – it controls costs by reducing spending. Health reform will be fully paid for.

President Obama has outlined a menu of cost reductions that we will consider and have to make very tough decisions about.

But this weekend’s pledge by pharmaceutical companies demonstrates that the President is successfully building a diverse coalition committed to reducing spending while improving affordability.

Our draft outlines where another significant portion of this funding will come from: promoting efficiencies in Medicare and Medicaid and ending overpayments to private plans.

This does not mean cutting services. Instead, we will improve them and strengthen their long-term sustainability, so they can continue to provide quality, dependable health care for years to come.

GUARANTEE CHOICE

Next, our reforms will guarantee people a real choice of doctors, nurses, and insurance plans through the exchange.

Under our draft, if you like what you have, you keep it.

People who aren’t covered will be able to choose from a menu of affordable plans, including quality public and private health insurance plans.

This coverage will be portable and guaranteed – no matter if an employer drops coverage or people lose their jobs.

QUALITY AND AFFORDABLE CARE

Finally, our draft ensures that all Americans can afford quality health care, based on a sliding scale.

Every plan offered through the exchange will include essential benefits, including no co-pays for preventative care, dental and vision coverage for children, and caps on annual out-of-pocket expenses that will protect against medical bankruptcy.

It ensures that care is as it should be: patient-centered, driven by patients’ needs and the expertise of doctors.

It invests in prevention and wellness and it ends insurance companies’ discriminatory practices.

It also requires share responsibility by individuals, employers and the government to ensure that all Americans have access to these benefits.

‘NO’ IS OFF THE TABLE

In the coming weeks, we will continue to seek input from stakeholders and lawmakers.

But many are also clamoring for inaction.

Let me be very clear on this one point.

On behalf of every parent seeking care for their sick child, and every American hoping that health care costs are not their last stop before bankruptcy, I can assure you: The one thing that is ‘off the table’ in this effort is saying ‘No’ to health care reform.

To succeed, we will need the cooperation of all of our colleagues and our President.

There will be tremendous pressure to think only about one narrow interest or another.

Instead, we must think of the future of our country and every American who expects that this year will be the year that we make our health care system part of America’s shining future and not the cause of further financial chaos.

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Discussion Draft for Providing Quality, Affordable Health Care

House Democrats Unveil Discussion Draft for Providing Quality, Affordable Health Care for All Americans

Proposal Embodies President Obama’s Goals of Lower Costs, More Choices, and Access to Quality, Affordable Care

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the chairmen of the three committees with jurisdiction over health policy in the U.S. House of Representatives unveiled their discussion draft for health care reform that would reduce out-of-control costs, improve choices and competition for consumers and expand access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans. The discussion draft would guarantee that almost every American is covered by a health care plan that is both affordable and offers quality, standard benefits by 2019.

Consistent with President Obama’s goals, the draft builds on what works in the current health care system by strengthening employer-provided care, while fixing what is broken with it. The draft would cover more Americans than any other proposal released to date.

Over the past several months House Committees on Education and Labor, Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce have been working together as one committee – an unprecedented approach – to develop one proposal for health care reform. In releasing their discussion draft today, the chairmen reiterated that they will continue to seek the input of all members and stakeholders during hearings and markups in the coming weeks.

“Today marks a historic moment in America’s urgent quest to fix our broken health insurance system,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the Chairman of the Education and Labor Committee. “Our discussion draft is the first step in delivering on the fundamental change that President Obama has called for, and that families and businesses need, by building a truly American solution to reduce costs, offer real choice, and guarantee affordable, quality health care for all.”

“President Obama issued a call to action to reform our nation’s health care system and the House Committees have answered in an unprecedented way, working as one to produce a draft that will help control costs, preserve and expand coverage and strengthen Medicare and Medicaid,” said U.S. Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee Chairman. “In the coming weeks, we will continue working with our colleagues and stakeholders to move this draft forward so we can create a new day in American health care that will benefit our nation for generations to come.”

“This draft sets out a very practical and uniquely American proposal,” said U.S. Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-CA), the Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee. “It fulfills President Obama’s commitment to provide quality, affordable health care for all. Nothing is more important to the long term health of the American people.”

“We are beginning an important process that I am confident will make history. The discussion draft is the first step towards creating a distinctly American Solution to our health care crisis. This bill includes a public option, which will provide the American people with a real choice,” said U.S. Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), the Chairman Emeritus of the Energy and Commerce Committee. This public option will lower costs and establish consumer protections that private companies have refused to commit to. The cooperation between Chairmen Miller, Rangel and Waxman is unprecedented and it is my pleasure to be working with them. We are committed to working with all the members in writing a bill that will provide quality, affordable care for all but also prevent the next great economic crisis we face.”

"We are not going to have economic growth until our health care system is fixed. Nearly a fifth of our economy is spent on health care, and while our world competitors continue to offer more efficient care, America lags behind,” said U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ), the Chairman of the Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee. “Insured Americans bear the heavy financial burden for those who cannot afford coverage and millions of struggling families cannot meet the rising costs. This plan is about freeing financial waste within our system and getting more value for our dollar so that we can afford to cover the 46 million uninsured Americans and freeing up money to be invested toward out nation’s economic growth.”

"Today's draft is the result of cooperation between members of the House. The bill provides affordable, quality health care for all," said U.S. Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA), the Chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health. "The discussion draft builds on what works. It keeps employer-sponsored insurance, makes market reforms, and limits catastrophic costs. The draft improves the Medicare program; eliminating co-pays for preventive care and the 'donut hole."

"While this country has the best medical care in the world, fewer and fewer people are able to access it and more and more people can't afford it," said U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) the Chairman of Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. "Today we are taking a big step towards historic health care reform for all Americans. History is not often made in a day and it certainly won't be made without continued hard work, but this plan is a big step on a truly meaningful issue. A new day for health care is now closer in sight."

The key principles of the House Democratic discussion draft for health care include, among other things:

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 establishes 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 reduces 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.

To view detailed fact sheets and more information on what the health care reform discussion draft means for American families, click here.

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House Approves $1 million for West County programs

The House of Representatives today approved $1 million for three anti-crime and at-risk youth programs in the East Bay, announced Rep. George Miller (D-Martinez) who requested the funding from Congress. The money will go to the San Pablo Police Department and two programs in Richmond that will provide opportunities for at-risk youth. Today’s House vote is a key step, but not the final stop, for approval of this funding. Final approval is expected in September.

“This funding is an investment in the youth of our community and will also assist local law enforcement to control crime,” Miller said. “It will provide job training and educational opportunities that will not only help our young residents succeed but will continue vital services to our community. Year after year, both Richmond programs we are funding have helped give kids direction and purpose. And San Pablo’s police continue to combine hard work and innovative technology to keep crime levels down. I am proud to continue to be able to secure funding for these programs that directly help improve our community.”

The funding would support the Richmond Police Activities League's CHAMP program, the Richmond Black Professional Firefighters Association's Youth Academy Program, and the implementation of a gunshot location system in San Pablo.

For the past two years, Miller has secured funding for the two Richmond youth programs. This is the first year that San Pablo is requesting funding for their project. The funding has to be approved by the Senate and gain the President's signature before it can be awarded.

Details of what the House approved today are below.

$250,000 Richmond Youth Academy
Richmond Black Professional Firefighters Association
The program assists at-risk youth in West Contra Costa County in identifying and obtaining goals and life skills by providing mentoring, growth and educational programs. The program is structured to help reduce juvenile delinquency and violence in the community.

$390,000 Changing Habits, Attitudes & Mind Program (CHAMP)
Richmond Police Activities League
The Changing Habits, Attitudes & Mind Program (CHAMP) program creates opportunities for the healthy physical, social and mental development of at-risk youth. The program addresses the needs of those who are involved in juvenile crime and violence by providing comprehensive programs. This increases the chances that they will become productive citizens in their community.

$360,000 Gunshot Location System
San Pablo, CA Police Department
San Pablo’s police force is currently stretched beyond its means as they attempt to respond to crime and gang violence. An increased coverage area will assist both San Pablo and Richmond, CA, police departments in fighting violence. Neighboring Richmond has previously received federal funding and is currently implementing the system.

The funds were allocated as part of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010. The Appropriations Act is one of twelve FY2010 appropriations (spending) bills that the House will consider this summer to fund the federal government. The complete list of Miller’s appropriations requests can be found on his website at georgemiller.house.gov/appropsFY10.

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