U.S. Chamber Warns Against Costly Health Care Mandates

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Chamber of Commerce today called on lawmakers to refocus their health policy efforts on expanding access to health coverage for the nearly 40 million Americans who lack it, and to help make insurance more widely available for working and retired individuals.

"We cannot afford proposals by that would inject more lawsuits or mandates into our health care system at a time of double-digit health care cost increases," said Bruce Josten, Chamber executive vice president. "More lawsuits and more mandates mean higher costs, which jeopardizes the health benefits working families count on, and puts health coverage further out of reach for those who are already uninsured."

Josten, who made his comments at a news conference on Capitol Hill with the Texas Association of Business and employer representatives from the Health Benefits Coalition, also said that "Americans' top concern about health care is cost, yet some politicians are more concerned about helping trial lawyers. Employers have told us time and again that they cannot afford one more dollar for their health benefits."

As America's employers try to rebound from the weakened economy, record health care inflation has stymied their efforts, forcing many to scale back coverage, drop coverage entirely, or ask workers to contribute a larger portion of their paychecks to cover the rising costs.

The Chamber advocates strengthening and expanding the current employer-based system through tax incentives for individuals who buy their own health insurance, including refundable tax credits for those with low incomes; full tax-code parity for all who pay premiums; and making coverage more affordable through self-funded pooling arrangements for small businesses, individuals, and the self-employed.

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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