The draft outline calls for mandatory healthcare coverage while maintaining patient choice and reducing costs.
The chairmen of the committees released the following joint statement regarding the draft:
“Our Committees are working as one to develop a uniquely-American solution to the healthcare crisis that is endangering the financial security of individuals and businesses. This solution will fulfill President Obama’s commitment to provide quality, affordable healthcare 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 healthcare 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 healthcare 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.”
Read the entire draft outline here.
