House Managed Care Bills Contain Hundreds Of New
Mandates
Oct 05, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 5, 1999
CONTACT: Richard Coorsh
(202) 824-1787
rcoorsh@hiaa.org
Consumers’ costs, number of uninsured, will rise
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Each of three controversial so-called
"Patient Protection" bills currently being considered in the House
of Representatives contains hundreds of mandates that would make
health insurance more expensive and lead to an increase of the
number of uninsured Americans, according to a new report released
today by the Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA).
The report examines mandates contained in the "Dingwood"
(Dingell-Norwood) bill, the Shadegg-Coburn bill, and the Boehner
bill. Among its findings are that the "Dingwood" and Shadegg-Coburn
bills each contain more than two times the number of mandates than
in Rep. Norwood’s discredited "PARCA" bill of last year.
"Each of these three bills would pile on literally hundreds of
new mandates to all health plans and types of health
insurance – not just to HMOs," noted HIAA President Chip Kahn. "Our
concern is not in the abstract – mandates cost money. Up to
one out of every four of the nation’s 44 million uninsured Americans
lack coverage because of the cost of mandates."
"It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to make the connection,"
added Mr. Kahn. "The ugly truth is that well-intentioned policy
makers refuse to make the connection."
According to Mr. Kahn, mandates contained in both the "Dingwood"
and Shadegg-Coburn bills would allow reviewers to overturn valid
health insurance contracts based upon solid actuarial analysis, that
spell out the terms and conditions of coverage. This in turn would
benefit health care providers at the expense of employers and
consumers, who would be compelled to pay more for their health
coverage – assuming that they still can afford it – he noted.
He also said that instead of empowering bureaucrats to put
manacles on insurers with hundreds of new mandates, Congressional
leaders of both parties – and the Administration – should focus
solely upon helping poor Americans purchase health insurance.
"Let’s not kid ourselves," said Mr. Kahn. "The nation’s number
one domestic priority is to make health coverage more affordable.
"The most important ‘patient protection’ that people need is
protection against higher coverage costs imposed upon them by
lawmakers."
HIAA is the nation’s most prominent trade association
representing the private health care system. Its members provide
health, long-term care, disability, dental, and supplemental
coverage to more than 123 million Americans.
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NOTE: HIAA’s tally of mandates contained in the "Dingwood,"
Shadegg-Coburn, and Boehner bills is available at http://www.hiaa.org/news/news-state/parca.htm
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