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NEWS RELEASE
December 22, 2009
Senate health care reform measure still does not meet test of strengthening employer-sponsored health coverageWASHINGTON, DC — With the Senate poised to approve sweeping health care reform legislation, the American Benefits Council expressed its views regarding the final version of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590). In a letter to the Senate, Council President James A. Klein stated: “Sound health care reform legislation must protect the vitality of – and indeed strengthen – the employment-based health care coverage system that serves the vast majority of Americans. Regrettably, taken as a whole, the Senate bill still does not meet that test. Accordingly, the Council is not able to support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.”“In several respects the Senate bill avoids serious flaws contained in the measure passed by the House of Representatives [the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962)]. Moreover, the manager’s amendment to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act makes a number of improvements from the version of the bill previously released. However, it also adds new provisions that impose further costs and burdens onto the health care system, and the manager’s amendment simply did not address many other previously communicated concerns,” the letter reads. In a December 15 letter to the Senate, the Council listed several specific issues that needed to be addressed in order for the legislation to improve quality, contain costs and expand coverage. The Council agrees fully with the statement issued over the weekend by Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME), who has urged that health care reform be crafted on a thoughtful, bipartisan basis. She advised: “We must take a time out from this legislative game of “beat the clock”, reconvene in January – instead of taking a three week recess – and spend the time necessary to get this right.” Senator Snowe, who has worked tirelessly to improve the Senate bill, expressed her “deep regret” at not being able to support the measure in its current form. Likewise, the Council, which has played a constructive role over the past year in offering specific recommendations to improve the measure, deeply regrets that the Senate will now vote on a bill that, with more work, could have been made better. As the legislative process continues to a conference between the Senate and House, the Council will remain actively engaged to advance practical solutions that support employers’ ability to provide vitally important health care coverage for workers and their families. For more information, or to arrange an interview with Council staff, please contact Jason Hammersla, Council director of communications, at 202-289-6700 (office) or (202) 253-5458 (cell).
The American Benefits Council is the national trade association for companies concerned about federal legislation and regulations affecting all aspects of the employee benefits system. The Council's members represent the entire spectrum of the private employee benefits community and either sponsor directly or administer retirement and health plans covering more than 100 million Americans.
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