Dreier Supports Making Health Care Available to 44
Million Uninsured Americans
For more, see Congressman
Dreier's Floor
Statement during debate on the rule providing for debate on
health care reform legislation
Dreier Supports Making Health Care Available to 44 Million Uninsured
Americans
Bill Would Provide Tax Credits to Those Caring for Elderly
Relatives and Promote Health Care to Small Businesses and
Underserved Communities
October 7, 1999As the House this week debates health care
legislation, House Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier (R-CA) threw
his support behind proposals to make affordable health care available to
44 million uninsured Americans by lowering costs and improving consumer
choice.
“Too many Americans live without health insurance. Expanding health
care choice and accessibility with market incentives is really the best
way to go,” Dreier said. “We provide tax credits for those who care for
elderly relatives and promote health care access to small businesses and
self-employed people.”
“We all agree that Americans should have accessible, affordable, and
accountable health care. If managed care is not making the grade, it
needs to be improved,” said Dreier, adding that he would support common
sense H.M.O. reforms. The health care access bill, H.R. 2990, would:
- provide a 100 percent deduction for health insurance and long-term
care premiums if the taxpayer pays more than 50 percent of the
premiums;
- provide an additional exemptions for individuals who care for
elderly family members at home;
- increase the deduction for health insurance of self-employed
individuals to100 percent in 2001;
- allow small business employees and those self-employed to pool
together and purchase health insurance, thereby cutting costs;
- expand medical savings accounts (MSAs) to increase access to
health care services and enhance patient control of health care
expenditures;
- create "HealthMarts," private, voluntary, and competitive health
insurance "supermarkets" that provide choice to small employers, their
employees and dependents;
- permit Community Health Organizations (CHOs) to offer health
insurance coverage in states where they are not licensed under certain
conditions, making it easier for providers to form health care
networks to meet needs in medically underserved areas.
|