U.S. Chamber: After Three Years, Health Care Law Has Failed to Live Up to Its Lofty Promises

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Vice President for Government Affairs Bruce Josten released the following statement today on the three year anniversary of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) being signed into law:

“After three years, we have only just begun to see the real impact of the health care law, and we still don’t know what the repercussions will be next year when the employer mandate and a host of new requirements, taxes, fines, fees, and rules on businesses take effect. But it is clear already that the law has failed to live up to its lofty promises. The health care law is overwhelming businesses and individuals with costly and confusing regulations that will drive up costs and create even more uncertainty in our economy.

“As the last three years have revealed, we can't reform American health care by simply passing another bill or enacting a new federal program. While recognizing that the law is here to stay, we remain focused on advancing meaningful solutions that will bring costs down and improve quality. We will continue working to minimize the negative impact of PPACA and help businesses navigate the many complicated regulatory challenges ahead.”

Meaningful health care reform is a key component of the Chamber’s 2013 American Jobs and Growth Agenda, an ambitious plan to generate stronger, more robust economic growth, create jobs, and expand opportunity for all Americans.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.