Action On Antitrust Waiver Betrays Consumers

Jul 05, 2000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Joseph Luchok

June 30, 2000

(202) 824-1786

e-mail: jluchok@hiaa.org

The following statement was released today by Chip Kahn, President of the Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA):

The U.S. House of Representatives vote on H.R. 1304 ignored fiscal responsibility. H.R. 1304 ("The Quality Health-Care Coalition Act"), grants antitrust waivers to doctors and other health care providers, giving them unprecedented legal authority to demand higher fees. This bill will do nothing to improve health care quality. It will cause consumers’ health insurance premiums to rise by as much as 13% a year, drive up the number of uninsured by at least 2.6 million, and add up to $95 billion to the nation’s health care tab.

It has been projected that over 700,000 seniors will lose their Medicare HMO benefits this year due to insufficient government payments. The increased physician fees caused by H.R. 1304 will make it more difficult for health plans remaining in the program to continue offering HMO benefits to seniors. Over 45 million Americans have no health insurance and H.R. 1304, by causing increases in health insurance premiums, will push that number higher. Consumers need expanded choices and coverage, not action like antitrust waivers that make the problems worse.

At a time of insufficient payments to Medicare + Choice organizations and an increasing number of uninsured, passage of legislation that does nothing but increase physician fees is irresponsible.

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