[Earlier
this month]...the U.S. House of Representatives unveiled its version of
health care reform. Previously, the Senate announced it is nearing the
introduction of its own bill. Both bills are designed to lower costs, and
provide more security and stability for people who already have health
insurance and to provide affordable insurance to those who don't.
The
House bill provides the best starting point. It covers more of the
uninsured, and also includes measures to increase health care equity by
expanding Medicaid eligibility, protecting Medicare, making new
investments in community health centers and providing free preventive
services.
The
House bill also contains a public option provision that still needs to be
improved. That is why the National Urban League along with the
Congressional Black Caucus and the Black Leadership Forum, an alliance of
more than 30 African American civil rights and service organizations, have
joined forces to ensure that a final bill includes a Robust Public Option
like Medicare.
Access
to an option for government-issued health care will provide competition
for private health providers, lower costs and help to close the healthcare
gap. We must be wary of imposing a mandate for health insurance without
addressing the issue of affordability.
The
House bill's public option would negotiate payment rates with health care
providers. That's not good enough.
We
believe that only a robust public option like Medicare will actually
expand accessibility and lower costs, not only for African Americans, but
for all Americans. But, now that Congress has spoken, it is time for the
American people to make their voices heard.
The
Black Leadership Forum, which I chair, is encouraging citizens to flood
Congress with visits, e-mails, telephone calls, faxes and social media, to
make our point clear: No triggers. No opt out. We need a robust public
option like Medicare.
To
make your voice heard, call your Senator at 202-224-3121 or e-mail www.senate.gov.
You can reach your Congressman in the House of Representatives by calling
202-225-3121 or e-mailing www.house.gov.
A
recent Harvard study documents that more than 45,000 Americans die each
year due to lack of health insurance. And while this is an issue affecting
all Americans, it is especially critical for African Americans.
More
than 1 in 5 African Americans are without health insurance, we have the
highest rates of chronic disease and we spend a higher percentage of our
income on health care.
Clearly,
passage of comprehensive health care reform is not only an economic
imperative; it is a moral imperative and a matter of life and death,
especially for Black America.
The
National Urban League, the Congressional Black Caucus and the Black
Leadership Forum are working hard for a Robust Public Option like Medicare
and a final bill that is worthy of the American people. We are close, but
we need your support to get to the finish line.
MarcMorial@MaximsNews.com
