House Committees Brief Members on Draft Health Reform Outline

Effort will reduce costs, protect current coverage and preserve choice to ensure affordable, quality care for all
From: Energy and Commerce Committee

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, leaders of the Committees with jurisdiction over health policy briefed members of the House Democratic Caucus on the current framework and timing of health reform efforts in the House of Representatives. The discussion, led by Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA), and Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-CA), focused on the key principles of reducing health care costs, protecting current coverage and preserving choice for patients to ensure affordable, quality care for all.

The three Chairmen released the following joint statement on their efforts to develop health reform legislation:

“Our Committees are working as one to develop a uniquely-American solution to the health care crisis that is endangering the financial security of individuals and businesses. This solution will fulfill President Obama's commitment to provide quality, affordable health care for all. This framework will build upon what works by ensuring that patients can keep their health coverage if they like it, preserve patients’ choice and reduce costs. We will also fix what is broken through marketplace reforms, sliding scale credits to make coverage more affordable, and provisions to combat waste, fraud and abuse, strengthen Medicare and Medicaid, and invest in the health care workforce and public health. By improving the current system and offering a public health insurance option to promote honest competition with private insurance plans, we will provide individuals and small businesses with better, more affordable choices.

“We will continue to seek input and work closely with our colleagues, outside stakeholders, and the Administration and are on track to introduce legislation shortly. We anticipate Committee action on health reform in the coming weeks, with legislation on the House Floor prior to the August district work period. Reforming America’s health care system is critical to our country’s long-term economic recovery and long-term fiscal health. We are confident that we will achieve reform that will give Americans peace of mind and return our great nation to a path of prosperity for generations to come.”

Please click here to view the outline provided by the Chairmen during today’s House Democratic Caucus meeting.