Chamber Welcomes Presidential Discussion on Health Access

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Chamber of Commerce hosted a discussion between President George W. Bush and small business owners on making health care affordable and available for more Americans.

"Businesses offer health care benefits because it is good practice and helps them compete for workers," said Bruce Josten, Chamber executive vice president for government affairs. "The Chamber applauds President Bush for his emphasis on combating rising health care costs and furthering the discussion of options, such as association health plans, that increase health choices for employers and workers."

The Chamber supports allowing bona fide associations to sponsor health plans that comply with rules under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act to extend to small businesses the same advantages currently enjoyed by large employers and unions – greater bargaining power, economies of scale, administrative efficiencies and the benefits of a uniform, federal regulatory structure. These rules would prevent plans from "cherry picking" the healthiest risks and ensure the plans' financial solvency.

Reports by both the Department of Labor and the Small Business Administration have highlighted the advantages of establishing federally regulated association health plans, which the studies find would expand high quality coverage to millions of uninsured working families and reduce health plans' administrative costs.

Health coverage is the most sought-after benefit offered by employers, with medically related payments accounting for the greatest share of benefit costs, according to the recently released Chamber annual benefits survey.

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.

Webcast: President Bush discusses health care access with small businesses

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04-29