Grijalva - 'Single Payer System Most Responsible Need For Health Care'

[Bobbieo]

Thank you for contacting my office with your thoughts about health care reform in the United States. I appreciate hearing from you and understand that this intricate process requires proper explanation.

I strongly believe that a single payer system is the most responsible, transparent and effective way to address the need for health care reform in the US. The US health care system spends more than double the amount on health care than other developed nations, yet scores lower on quality indicators and leaves millions without care.

Those that are uninsured strain our system because they wait until they are very sick and then are forced into expensive means of care such as hospitals. The costs are passed onto the insured in the form of higher priced services and premiums. Insurance companies continue to raise their prices to maintain enormous unchecked profits. This detrimental pattern must be stopped.

As the House of Representatives passed The Affordable Health Care for America Act, I had concerns that parts of the bill could have been better, but I was pleased we took an initial step forward to enact far-reaching health care reform. While the House developed and passed their strategy to improve the health care system the Senate passed their own plan. Unfortunately there are wide variations in these plans and ultimately the Senators fell to the will of the special interest, lobby groups and individual side deals. After months of bickering the senate bill was devoid of many important elements of reform.

The Senate bill does not include a public option to bring down cost and provide people with a choice; the bill does not set up a national exchange to regulate insurance companies but forces the states to undertake this responsibility themselves, which has already proven ineffectual. It does not remove unfair anti-trust exemptions which will allow insurance companies to continue to monopolize the market.

The Senate bill allows many existing insurance plans to forgo the new regulatory reforms which mean discrimination on basis of pre-existing conditions, age and gender may still be allowed. The bill would not require the largest employers to provide assistance; in fact the employer responsibility is designed in a way that would make it easy for large employers, particularly the ones paying poor wages, to shirk their responsibilities because it doesn't include part time employees or those making a certain income levels.

Furthermore, the Senate chose to place an excise tax on group health coverage instead of using the House's version of a surcharge on millionaires. This tax is extremely unfair and will have a devastating impact on middle class workers overtime and those people who need high quality, or more expensive plans because of chronic conditions or disabilities.

I cannot support the current Senate bill; however I will continue to fight for the good aspects of health reform for which the ground work has already been laid.

A National Health Insurance Exchange that would be set up to facilitate locating and purchasing coverage and give the federal government the ability to properly regulate insurance companies. One of the choices that should be available within the Exchange is a public insurance option that will both ensure people quality coverage and create competition on a level playing field with the private insurance companies to finally drive down skyrocketing medical inflation. Any reform bill should remove unfair anti-trust exemptions for health insurers.

I support extending the solvency of the Medicare Care Trust Fund to ensure its continued success. Furthermore we must close the prescription drug 'donut hole' entirely. I support components of reform that would eliminate cost sharing from preventive services to make sure that no one is discouraged to get the basic services to keep them healthy. I support the expansion of Medicaid, however it is vital that the expansion is properly and equally funded in all states and that physicians are reimbursed adequately so that these patients have choices.

I am concerned that the American Congress has such a clear difference of priorities at this point. Many Senators agree with the sincere principles of health reform but they are held hostage by the few that put lobbyist from industries before those in our nation that are literally sick and dying. I will continue to fight for health care reform. This reform must be done right; I will not cave to pass poor policies that could have harmful effects on struggling middle class families.

Thank you for your comments regarding the health care bills currently being debate in Congress. It is apparent that the American public wants Congress to address the deep flaws of our system. It is also apparent that these reforms must be addressed correctly and transparently. The Leadership in this congress must find a way to properly address any shortcoming s and to pass the policies that truly meet the needs of our country.

Sincerely,

Raúl M. Grijalva
Member of Congress

[Name removed]

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