Rich Umbdenstock, CEO, American Hospital Assn., March 21:
Today’s vote will chart a new and better course for our nation’s health and health care. Bottom line: the health reform bill may not be perfect, but it expands coverage to 32 million people, enacts significant insurance market reforms and lays a solid foundation upon which we can continue to build.
J. James Rohack, M.D., president, American Medical Assn., March 21:
By extending health coverage to tens of millions of uninsured, improving competition and choice in the insurance marketplace, promoting prevention and wellness, reducing administrative burdens, and promoting clinical comparative effectiveness research, this bill will help patients and the physicians who care for them. There are increased payments for primary care physicians caring for Medicaid patients and bonus payments for physicians in underserved areas.
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, March 21:
Throughout this long process, we have been guided by a belief that all Americans should have access to high-quality, affordable health care coverage and services. This legislation, while not perfect, is a step in that direction. Even as we support health care reform legislation, we continue to have concerns about a number of issues including the overly broad powers of a non-elected Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), which could enact sweeping Medicare changes without action by Congress and would not be subject to judicial or administrative review.
Karen Ignagni, CEO, America’s Health Insurance Plans, March 21:
The access expansions are a significant step forward, but this legislation will exacerbate the health care costs crisis facing many working families and small businesses.
Thomas Donohue, CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, March 21:
This $900 billion, 2800 page bill is not health care reform. It fails to fix what is broken and risks breaking what already works. It will drive up health care costs and make coverage less affordable for businesses and families. It marks a major step down the road to a government-run health care system. It will further expand entitlements and explode the deficit, and raises taxes by a half a trillion dollars at the worst possible time. American jobs and growth are at risk thanks to the decision by the House today.
(Note: Revised to include most recent AHIP comment on the legislation).
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Mr Mecurio:
I worked long and hard to see that “dark day” resulting from Scott Brown’s election in Mass. We have “Mandatory ‘Universal’ Healthcare” here already and even according to our state Treasurer, is bankrupting our state. My own premiums have more than doubled since it’s inception in 2006, so before you praise anything the government forces down our throats you may want to do a little investigating first. Please remove my email from your list.
It occurs to me that the current bill, while its cost are bno doubt low balled, may not in and of itself be devaastating to the federal treasury. By simply offeriing a subsidy for insurance, the feds limit their risk, as opposed to going to single payer ala Medicare where they are at risk for the entire cost of care. the danger is that the feds either force a market failure by capping premium or continually raise subsidies as premiums rise. So the battle that must be waged is not necessarily to repeal the act but a ceaseless holding action contain the costs and avoid going furhther down the road that has been chosen.
Terry,
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. This legislation focuses on expanding coverage, not controlling costs. The only way this will succeed going forward is by getting costs in line.
Carl
The health reform bill does need to address costs especially in this era of of our nation citizens are increasingly worried about cost. But this legislation is a tremendous step forward to providing quality health care for everyone.HSA
Barack Obama along with all his liberal mafia ought to be ashamed of themselves. Furthermore this is a total outrage. I had been under the belief that once the president takes office he has to make an oath to support and also defend the constitution of our great country. Nowhere inside the Constitution did it grant the federal government the power to enact as well as implement laws and regulations like the health care reform bill. I believe these power mongers shall be in for a genuine surprise in November. Congratulations on the collapse of your political careers.