STATEMENT
By U.S.
PIRG Health Care Advocate
Larry McNeely on Senate Health Care Bill
“This year, U.S. PIRG has worked for
health reform
that will tame the abuses of the insurance industry and rein in the
rising cost
of health care. U.S. PIRG has supported the public option as one way to
accomplish those goals and we are disappointed it is no longer included
in the
Senate bill.
“However,
the bill’s remaining
provisions – bans on pre-existing condition denials, tougher regulation
of
insurers, new coverage choices in health insurance exchanges, and
groundbreaking reforms to rein in rising costs – can finally make
health care
work for America’s
families and small businesses.
“The
bill currently before the
Senate, even without the public option, represents an historic
opportunity to
meet the challenge of rising costs and end insurance industry abuses.
With the cost of the average family health insurance plan threatening
to double
in less than a decade, Americans cannot afford the price of failure.
“The
Senate must not allow special
interests and their allies to successfully filibuster reform. For all
Senators who wish to put the public interest over powerful special
interests,
it’s time to unite behind health reform.”
