| WHAT:
| On December 15, the Council delivered a message to all members of the Senate regarding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590). “We are unable to support the Senate bill in its current form and are increasingly disturbed that significant progress has yet to be made to address the problems it poses for employer-sponsored health care. Without significant improvements, we will have no alternative but to oppose the legislation as it is considered further by the Senate,” the letter reads.
The Council, representing the nation’s largest employers, has been a constructive voice throughout the health care debate, and remains one of the last business organizations still working to make the current health reform process succeed. “However, the problems that the current Senate bill poses for employers — who voluntarily provide high-quality, affordable health care to more than 160 million Americans — must be addressed immediately,” said Council President James A. Klein.
“One year ago, we issued our prescriptions for health care reform,” Klein said. “Throughout 2009, we have worked in good faith with lawmakers to craft legislation that builds on the strengths of the employer-sponsored health care system. Whereas the House of Representatives legislation was unacceptable at the outset, we believed that the Senate bill could be a vehicle for real reform. Despite some opportunity to improve the measure, it remains unacceptable. Today we have reiterated in extensive detail the conditions that must be met to avoid the Council’s opposition.” |
