Statement on CBO Estimates of Better Care Reconciliation Act

22 million people losing health insurance is unconscionable

“The CBO estimate of 22 million people losing health insurance should be a bill stopper.  This bill was supposed to increase the number of people who have health insurance.  As it stands the legislation is unconscionable,” said Jane L. Delgado, PhD, MS, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, the nation’s leading Hispanic health advocacy group.

“It’s time for legislators to go back to the drafting table.  The American people deserve bipartisan legislation that will deliver on the promise of insurance for everybody.  Congress must (1) ensure access for people with pre-existing conditions instead of enacting barriers to access that may be a death sentence; (2) roll back Medicaid cuts and allow for rates of growth that reflect the reality of an aging population; (3) ensure an orderly transition that does not disrupt care and ensures states can respond to changes in a way that reduces cost growth without compromising quality and access; and, (4) strengthen and expand the network of community health centers that have a proven capacity to deliver quality services,” emphasized Dr. Delgado.

“The one thing that everybody agrees on is that our system is not perfect, so it is time to start working in a bipartisan fashion and serve the interests of the nation.  The American people deserve better,” concluded Dr. Delgado.

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About the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (The Alliance) 
The Alliance is the nation's foremost science-based source of information and trusted advocate for the best health outcomes for all. For more information, visit: http://www.healthyamericas.org or call the Alliance's Su Familia National Hispanic Family Health Helpline at 1-866-783-2645.

Early Death Means Health Care Savings

While there is much agreement about the need for health care savings we also need to agree on how we define good health services and outcomes.  CBO Director Elmendorf’s comment below needs our careful consideration:

"Even if successful, measures to reduce smoking and obesity—two factors linked to the development of chronic and acute health problems—might not have a substantial impact on health care spending for some time.  In the long term, spending on diseases caused by poor health habits could decline substantially, but the impact on federal costs would also have to account for people living longer and receiving more in Medicare benefits (for the treatment of other diseases and age-related ailments) as well as other government benefits that are not directly related to health care (including Social Security benefits)."

--Douglas W. Elmendorf; Director, Congressional Budget Office 

   Testimony before the Senate Finance Committee

   February 25, 2009