Universal Health Care Recommended
Universal Health Care Recommended
by John Crabtree, johnc@cfra.org
The Citizens’ Health Care Working Group, an independent committee established by Congress in the 2003 Medicare Modernization Act, recently released “Health Care that Works for All Americans.” The report and its recommendations are based on months of meetings across the nation, data and policy recommendations from health care experts, and 5,000 individual commentaries on health care related issues.
Members of the committee were appointed by the Comptroller of the United States and represent a cross-section of heath care providers, consumers, and benefit providers.
The committee found a health care system it describes as “unintelligible to most people” and that is “disconnected from the mission of providing people with humane, respectful, and technically excellent health care” and as a result made the following recommendations:
>> All Americans should have affordable health care, with access to a “set of core health care services” and financial assistance to those who need it.>> Defining a “core benefit package” for all Americans.
>> Guaranteed financial protection against very high health care costs through a national program that ensures universal health care coverage and financial protection for low-income Americans and against very high out-of-pocket costs.
>> Support of community health provider networks for health care services in underserved areas and for vulnerable populations, including rural areas and rural residents.
>> Promote efforts to improve quality of care and efficiency to lower costs.
The public has until August 31, 2006, to comment on the report. The President then has an opportunity to review and add his comments. Five committees in Congress will subsequently hold hearings. This report and its recommendations have the potential to profoundly reform and shape the American health care system. That makes public comment vital.
Review entire report and submit comments online at http://www.citizenshealthcare.gov/ or by mail at Citizens’ Health Care Working Group, Interim Recommendations, 7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 575, Bethesda, MD 20814.
post a question or comment here or contact John Crabtree, johnc@cfra.org
Center for Rural Affairs
Values. Worth. Action.
by John Crabtree, johnc@cfra.org
The Citizens’ Health Care Working Group, an independent committee established by Congress in the 2003 Medicare Modernization Act, recently released “Health Care that Works for All Americans.” The report and its recommendations are based on months of meetings across the nation, data and policy recommendations from health care experts, and 5,000 individual commentaries on health care related issues.
Members of the committee were appointed by the Comptroller of the United States and represent a cross-section of heath care providers, consumers, and benefit providers.
The committee found a health care system it describes as “unintelligible to most people” and that is “disconnected from the mission of providing people with humane, respectful, and technically excellent health care” and as a result made the following recommendations:
>> All Americans should have affordable health care, with access to a “set of core health care services” and financial assistance to those who need it.>> Defining a “core benefit package” for all Americans.
>> Guaranteed financial protection against very high health care costs through a national program that ensures universal health care coverage and financial protection for low-income Americans and against very high out-of-pocket costs.
>> Support of community health provider networks for health care services in underserved areas and for vulnerable populations, including rural areas and rural residents.
>> Promote efforts to improve quality of care and efficiency to lower costs.
The public has until August 31, 2006, to comment on the report. The President then has an opportunity to review and add his comments. Five committees in Congress will subsequently hold hearings. This report and its recommendations have the potential to profoundly reform and shape the American health care system. That makes public comment vital.
Review entire report and submit comments online at http://www.citizenshealthcare.gov/ or by mail at Citizens’ Health Care Working Group, Interim Recommendations, 7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 575, Bethesda, MD 20814.
post a question or comment here or contact John Crabtree, johnc@cfra.org
Center for Rural Affairs
Values. Worth. Action.
posted by Center for Rural Affairs @ 1:24 PM
1 Comments:
At 2:55 PM,
Anonymous said…
I sent my comments to the committee, short and sweet, and to the point.
Whiting, Iowa
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