EPPN urges: Tell Congress - Vote YES on Health Care Reform!
From the Episcopal Public Policy Network:
Health care costs have been sky rocketing. Many people don't have access to insurance affordable or not. The Episcopal Church has passed resolutions on numerous occasions, most recently at this summer's 76th General Convention, stating that all people should have access to quality affordable health care. The time for action is now, and as a strong first step towards comprehensive health care reform, we are asking congress to pass the Affordable Health Care for America Act of 2009.As you read this, the House is poised to vote on H.R. 3962, Affordable Health Care for America Act of 2009, which would provide access to affordable health care insurance for every person regardless of age, income, or health care status. Passage of this bill will mark the beginning of the effort to guarantee the assurance of affordable, quality health care coverage and peace of mind to American families, providing them with better care while costing them less.
H.R. 3962 would establish a mandate for everyone to have health insurance, expand eligibility for Medicaid, and establish new health insurance exchanges through which some people could purchase subsidized coverage. It would bring an end to costly co-pays and deductibles for preventive care and rate increases based on pre-existing conditions. Further, the bill offers access to a number of prevention and wellness services, such as community health centers and community-based wellness programs. The bill further reauthorizes the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, whose last authorization expired in 2001, and includes key provisions to better ensure access to quality health care for Native Americans. Unlike the previous House proposal, according to the CBO, this revised bill reduces the deficit by $30 billion over the first 10 years. Affordable Health Care for America Act is the first major attempt to fix America's health care crisis by making health care more accessible, more affordable, and more effective.
Congress has an opportunity to take the first major step toward enacting comprehensive health care reform legislation that will guarantee every American access to quality affordable health care; provide families with help in paying rising premiums and maintaining coverage; and end waste, fraud and abuse through health systems modernization. Click here today to urge your Member vote for the Affordable Health Care for America Act.
Health care reform without a public option is meaningless. It may still sound like an improvement, but in practice, it will leave just as many, if not more people, uninsured without reducing long term total costs.
Will not reduce total health care costs, just paperwork and new rules making healthcare providers spend even more time filling out forms and less time treating patients.
Support health care reform WITH A PUBLIC OPTION ONLY. Otherwise it needs to be defeated this time around and try to get it right next time.
Here's one of many places you can add your name to petition for a public option
http://www.alfranken.com/content/splash_petition
-Jadvar Johnson.
Posted by jj![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 7, 2009 9:57 AM
The "affordable" bill will not bend the curve and slow the rate of healthcare cost growth. It mandates care that has not been proven to have benefits. It mandates preventive care that costs substantially more than it benefits. It does not solve the problem of the use of medical equipment and testing that costs that costs far more than it benefits. It does nothing to learn from other countries that access to care cannot mean costs and benefits of treatments are ignored.
I want to buy insurance that limits my care. That would be affordable insurance. This bill will not let me do that.
Yes, what I'm saying might be construed and exploited in debate as akin to "death panels". To advocate them is political suicide. But that's where we are. To use the descriptor "Affordable" on the bill is Orwellian. "Access" might be a better descriptor, as long as the country can afford to underwrite it.
Posted by John B. Chilton![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 7, 2009 10:23 AM
All I can say is this: all Americans need health care they can afford. So far every time we have attempted this, it has been shot down. No one else has come up with a better option. It is so much easier to poke holes than it is to come up with a better idea. "If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem."
Posted by SisterGloriamarie![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 7, 2009 10:38 AM