On June 9th, 2009, although discourse between the Committee’s Democrats and Republicans on unresolved issues was still in progress, Senator Kennedy emitted the Affordable Health Choices Act. (http://help.senate.gov/BAI09A84_xml.pdf.)
In this release, Kennedy expressed that Congress is aware of the crisis that American families face with the present health care system and the urgency of the problem, and that the goal for Congress and President Obama is to “strengthen what works and fix what doesn’t.” He continued to state that they will work on devising common-sense solutions in order to reduce soaring health care costs, ensure quality care for everyone and to offer health insurance options that are affordable.
A joint process was established previously this year between Senator Kennedy and Senator Max Baucus (Chairman of the Finance Committee). This process was put in place to develop harmonious legislation by July. From information provided, it is said that the Committee is dedicated to meeting that target.
Senator Christopher J. Dodd (vice chair of the HELP Committee) announced that reforming the present health care system is imperative. He also articulated that people should not feel the need or pressure to change their present insurance if they are satisfied with it; merely that the Committee is working on providing better choices to the public, including a public option for health care.
The Committee has held more than a dozen public hearings in the past six months to meet the goal of improving the quality of care, prevention and wellness, and expanding insurance coverage.
Senator Tom Harkin asserted that in order to reduce the escalating health care costs, one of the main solutions is to decrease chronic disease. He suggests that if there is a $10 investment per person annually, that prevention programs could be put in place that could save more than $18 million every year within the next one or two decades.
He continues to say that “this reform provides one of the largest investments in prevention and wellness initiatives, offering choices throughout the health care system. At the federal level, it creates a new inter-agency council to develop a national health strategy and a dedicated funding stream to support these efforts; at the clinical level, it provides coverage of preventive services and the elimination of co-pays and deductibles for these services; and at the grassroots level offers grants for community initiatives. In short, it realigns incentives to make it easier to be healthy and removes the barriers to preventive services like screenings for diabetes, depression, tobacco cessation, and nutrition counseling – to name just a few.”
Senator Mikulski added that in order for the economy to be fixed, health care needs to be fixed, so that American families and businesses are able to afford it. He affirmed that “we can’t afford not to fix health care.” The Senate believes that creating a better health care strategy for the nation will help to combat the major problems Americans face- medical errors, preventable hospital readmissions and failure to manage chronic disease. These issues are what impact people, their lives, their checkbooks and national health care costs in a critical way. The Senate articulated that “Emphasizing quality improves lives, saves lives and helps pay for reform by saving money.”
The main goal of this bill is to fix the nations broken health care system and ensure that affordable and quality health care is available to everyone and accessible by all. The Senate reiterated that this bill is a step towards making sure that all Americans can see a doctor when needed and that the present increasing cost of health care does not hinder the long-term economic strength and goals of the nation. Senator Murray also mentioned that they have included a plan to make certain that there are enough health care professionals to provide this type of care.
The Act at a Glance
OBJECTIVE:
To make quality, affordable health care available to all Americans, reduce costs, improve health care quality, enhance disease prevention, and strengthen the health care workforce.
THE BONES OF THE ACT:
1) To Renovate the System:
The Act aspires to bring the American health care system into the 21st century. By making investments in proper training and technology, the American health care system will be an innovation.
2) To Reduce Costs:
By means of enhance prevention, increased quality of health care and services, and better technology, health care costs will be reduced.
3) To Provide Options:
One of the major constituents of this Act is to offer the American people more options. If they like their current insurance, they can keep it. However, if you do not or you do not have health insurance, there are more options and more affordable options.
4) To Provide Long-Term Care:
The Act endeavors to provide long-term health care and services so that the elderly and disabled will be able to live and function at home, and to make them more independent. By helping them to put necessary fixtures in their homes like ramps and other means of support, the elderly and disabled will not see nursing homes as their only choice.
3) To Reduce Disease:
By taking the approach that prevention is better than cure, the Act will aim to help the American people to learn to improve their health and monitor their own health. The Act will make information more available and accessible and also encourage early screenings.
Resources:
1) http://kennedy.senate.gov/newsroom/press_release.cfm?id=1130B17B-3D2D-40AD-B9C3-A6F040374128
2) http://help.senate.gov/BAI09A84_xml.pdf
3) http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1849525/can_the_affordable_health_choices_act.html
4) http://ebn.benefitnews.com/news/kennedys-health-bill-shakes-up-reform--debate-2681051-1.html
5) http://keithhennessey.com/2009/06/08/kennedy-health-bill/
6) http://wallstreetpit.com/5117-cbo-on-the-kennedy-health-bill
7) http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-11-20-Kennedy_N.htm
