NFIB yesterday released a letter it sent to U.S. Rep. Charles Norwood (10th Dist.-GA), pointing out inconsistencies in Norwood's stand on health care reform.

Somehow, we find your statements that you're for helping the uninsured...but just not in your bill, a bit inconsistent, said the letter from NFIB Vice President Dan Danner. If those 43 million people who can't afford health care today aren't important enough to be in your bill, then they are obviously not a very significant priority.

NFIB has been highly critical of certain elements in Norwood's proposed Patient's Bill of Rights (H.R. 2723). One provision in the bill would leave employers that provide health benefits open to lawsuits filed by employees dissatisfied with treatment decisions made by their medical plan. We ... stand by our belief that your legislation will increase costs and increase the number of uninsured Americans, Danner wrote.

Health care reform has been a hot topic in congressional debate throughout this session. Norwood's bill and other measures are expected to come up for final vote in the House of Representatives next week.

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