AHIP Statement on Release of Finance Committee Chairman's Mark

Thursday, Sep 17,2009, 2:30:31 PM Click:

America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) today issued the following statement from President and CEO Karen Ignagni:

"Senator Max Baucus has led an unprecedented process of both parties and to adopt rigorous reform health care this year and challenged all stakeholders to contribute to this process. The introduction of legislation in the Finance Committee is a very important step in the process of health reform.

"Health plans have stepped up and proposed reforms robust insurance market to ensure no one falls through the cracks and an overhaul of administrative procedures that will improve efficiency, reduce paperwork, and free up time for physicians to focus on patient care. We have also advocated and supported a new reinsurance mechanism to help the transition to new market rules.

"We are committed to working with policymakers and stakeholders to find savings in Medicare, including Medicare Advantage, but it is important to ensure healthy choices for elderly care are protected.

"New health insurance reforms and consumer protections will guarantee access for all Americans without the need for a new untested government-created co-op that could disrupt the quality coverage on which millions of Americans rely today. We believe there is an opportunity for additional system-wide cost containment to ensure coverage is more affordable and to put our health care system on a sustainable and fiscally responsible path. New taxes on health care coverage will have the opposite effect by making coverage less affordable for families and employers across the country.

"As the process progresses, health plans will continue working with members of Congress to enact bipartisan legislation this year that will cover all Americans, make coverage more affordable, and improve quality."

America's Health Insurance Plans - Providing Health Benefits to More Than 200 Million Americans

SOURCE America's Health Insurance Plans