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

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, 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.

"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, 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.”

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, answers 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.
  

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