Chamber Focuses Health Care Debate on Expanding Coverage to Uninsured Americans

LOS ANGELES, CA – The United States Chamber of Commerce urged greater emphasis on market-based solutions to expand health care coverage to those without insurance during "Health Coverage 2000" – a conference sponsored by business, labor, insurance, providers and consumer groups to address the challenge of the uninsured.

"Businesses voluntarily provide health care benefits to more than 172 million workers, retirees and their families," said Kate Sullivan, Chamber director for health care policy. "Instead of tinkering with the benefits of those with health insurance, we must focus on ways to extend coverage to the nearly 43 million Americans without it."

Lynn Franzoi, Senior Vice-President for Benefits at Fox Entertainment Group in Los Angeles, represented the U.S. Chamber on a panel exploring solutions to coverage. The Chamber advocates strengthening and expanding the current system through tax incentives for individuals who buy their own health insurance including refundable tax credits for those with low incomes, and making coverage more affordable through pooled purchasing under ERISA for small businesses, individuals and the self-employed.

The Chamber also proposes eliminating state mandates and reforming medical malpractice laws in order to make coverage more affordable, and improving health care quality through better consumer information about providers and costs and permitting external review of health plan decisions involving medical judgement. In addition, State Children's Health Insurance Program rules should be eased to facilitate workplace coverage for the dependents of eligible employees.

"It would be foolish to dismantle the employer-based system through outright change to the law or, worse, through the unintended consequences of misguided legislation," said Sullivan. "While changing demographics and non-traditional work arrangements require alternatives to the employer-based system, any alternatives should build on the success of the current system – not undercut it."

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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