ICYMI: Rep. Altmire Says Reform Doesn't Meet His Two Goals -- Slow Down Costs and Focus on Quality

Posted by The Campaign on November 20, 2009 at 12:40 PM

In the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Congressman Altmire explains his opposition to the House bill, because "without cost-control, health-care reform is an empty promise."

Here are a few more excerpts:

"Unfortunately, the health-care reform bill (H.R. 3962) that was passed in the House on Nov. 7 failed to include the reforms necessary to meet these goals. This is why I voted against it."

"...it failed to address the one issue we cannot ignore in any truly effective health-care reform bill: out-of-control health-care spending. Until we tackle this core problem, we will simply be perpetuating an inefficient system that is unsustainable. This is the reason health insurance is so unaffordable to so many."

"A number of academics, economists and health-care experts from across the political spectrum -- including the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services -- have documented that under the House bill, both federal and overall health-care expenditures would increase in the long term compared to current law."

"Supporters of the House bill have argued that it is fiscally responsible because it does not add to the federal deficit. While this is true, there is a big difference between not adding to the deficit and bringing down health-care costs. The House bill pays for itself primarily by raising taxes, not by making the fundamental reforms necessary to bring down the cost of health care."

Tags: ICYMI, Costs