Politics

Taking the Time to Get it Right

Debate concerning what kind of health care reform our country needs and how our country will pay for it is dominating not only Washington, but the everyday lives of most Americans. Today, the Democrat health care bill is being considered in the final committee of jurisdiction, the Energy and Commerce Committee. It?s uncertain when the Committee will complete consideration of the bill and if and when that legislation will make it to the House floor for a vote.

The Democrat?s rush to bring their health care bill to the House floor for a vote this week before the House Members break for August work period would not help unsure any more Americans than waiting until the fall. It is essential that Congress take the time to get this right to ensure that the doctor/patient relationship is protected, quality is ensured, and our system becomes more cost efficient. What?s more, the Democrat health care bills won?t even take effect for four years!
Key Democrat proposals such as?preventing health insurers from discriminating against people based on health status, providing tax credits to make health insurance more affordable, and creating a new health insurance exchange?won?t take effect until 2013.

Even if Congress rushes a bill through to the President?s desk, very little would happen for several years to address the problems of the uninsured or to increase affordable access to care. This is yet one more reason Congress should take the time to get it right.-Sarah Beatty, Health Care Legislative Assistant

Full post as published by Mike Conaway's Blog on July 31, 2009 (boomark / email).