Action
On Antitrust Waiver Betrays Consumers 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. Consumer Information | Insurance Education | Publications Copyright © 1999 Health Insurance Association of America |