News and Opposition: H.R. 3962 - the "Affordable Healthcare for America Act"

by Kevin Ganster

It's D-Day minus 1 and counting! A vote has been set for tomorrow for the House health care bill, endorsements are coming in, moderates are being whipped (perhaps literally!), questions are being raised, promises are being broken, protests are erupting, and victory is being predicted. The negotiating and arm twisting over the particulars of bill continue, as well. Controversial issues like access to care for illegal immigrants and abortion funding could trigger revolts among certain Democratic members if not resolved to their satisfaction. Everyone is paying particular attention to how the Blue Dogs will vote. The issues are expected to be worked out, but one casualty will be Speaker's Pelosi's rock-solid pledge to post the bill at least 72 hours before a vote.

The CEO of New York-Presbyterian Hospital Dr. Herbert Pardes says if the bill does pass, expect an acute doctor shortage. He writes in The Wall Street Journal that expanding the number of insured patients but not the number of doctors will only increase the demand for services that already must meet the demands of an aging population.

Where does the public stand in all of this? According to the latest CNN poll, a majority of Americans want Congress to keep working on the issue, but only a quarter want them to pass the bill currently under consideration. A third want major changes and another quarter want them to start from scratch.

Yesterday the U.S. Chamber sent a letter to the House of Representatives strongly urging Members to "support real health reform and oppose H.R. 3962." Because:

...it would make health care more expensive, create onerous new burdens for businesses, greatly increase the government's involvement in the health sector, and implement a vast array of new taxes. The Chamber supports reforming the health care system; however, this bill would not accomplish successful reform, but would in fact make the current system worse.

Adding "The Chamber will consider votes on, or in relation to, this issue in our annual How They Voted scorecard." Read the full letter here, one more selection:

The bill contains a new government-run health insurance plan that would raise costs for businesses who are trying to do the right thing by offering health benefits to their employees. The legislation specifically states that the “public option” will pay below market rates, which guarantees that costs will be shifted to the private sector. This public option may also destabilize the insurance market and lead the country on a path toward government-run health care, because it is impossible for the government to compete on an equal playing field with the private sector. The Chamber opposes this new government program.

Comments

[ChamberPost]

David - We are not calling for the status quo or inaction. Please see:

http://www.chamberpost.com/2009/10/health-reform-we-support.html

(BP)

[David M.]

I have seen several of the Chamber's ads on our local television stations and wanted to let you know that I do not support your efforts and believe your ads, this article and your letter to the Congress are disingenuous. You offer nothing other than the status quo which is on track to bankrupt many of your members and the nation. The bills now in Congress are far from perfect but they are all a step in the right direction. I see the painful results of decades of inaction every day in my healthcare practice. If we do not move forward now it will likely be more decades and a far greater burden on our society before we have another chance.