State Efforts to Derail Health Reform Progressive States Network Enzo Pastore Health Policy Specialist x205 Families USA Health Action 2010

At least 24 States introducing bills that could negate federal reforms and empower insurance companies Bill modeled after ALEC's "Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act (PA HB 2053) No requirement to purchase health care from the government or a government- defined health plan & includes freedom to pay out of pocket

Families USA Health Action 2010 Serves as a messaging platform to spread misinformation about federal reform legislation Sponsors of this legislation say intent is to protect individuals right to make their own health care choices In fact, it would decrease choice and hamper patients ability to access care and give insurers more power

Families USA Health Action 2010 Strategy for Pushing Back Georgia proposed constitutional amend Rep. Morgan branded the bill as the wrong approach for meeting Georgians health reform needs and as a distraction from the real problems Real problem is that Georgia has close to 1.7 million uninsured

Families USA Health Action 2010 To truly create consumer choice in health care, we need to support the federal reform bill now before the U.S. Senate Senate bill ends the practice of insurers denying coverage to people with pre- existing, allow Georgians freedom to choose their doctor and create option to purchase a government-run health plan

Families USA Health Action 2010 Instead of going after the consumer and small business-friendly Senate bill, we should go after insurance companies, who repeatedly deny health care to families & withhold payments from our family physicians

Families USA Health Action 2010 Talking Points More and more families are losing their medical insurance because it's too costly for them and their employers This bill does nothing to help families and small businesses access quality and affordable health care

Families USA Health Action 2010 The Congressional health reform bills provide security and stability for the insured, offer affordable options for the uninsured, strengthens the financial health of Medicare They also create more choices by helping tens of millions of uninsured and under-insured American families afford quality coverage

Families USA Health Action 2010 Messaging Health Reform Conservatives say, Government-run health care will fleece hard-working taxpayers, restrict choice, and degrade the quality of health care Conservative activists are playing to fears of middle and right-leaning Americans, fears shared by independents if the message is repeated often enough

Families USA Health Action 2010 Examples include: My family wont get the care they need, socialism leads to scarcity, rationing Change will result in loss of control, deny freedom of choice Reform means more and higher taxes Mandates, government telling us what to do Subsidies = people getting something for nothing

Families USA Health Action 2010 To successfully address affordability and quality: Security and stability for those with coverage –speaks to concerns of Americans with coverage but are not happy with it, cant afford it, or fear losing it. Addresses such reforms as health insurance regulations

Families USA Health Action 2010 Affordable choices for the uninsured – speaks to the new options available in the Exchange and subsidies for those who need assistance Controls costs for businesses and families –speaks to long-term efforts to control health care costs, such as payment reforms so providers focus on quality and coordinated care rather than quantity

Families USA Health Action 2010 Reform will provide peace of mind – true freedom – for Americas families, seniors, and small businesses.. Reform will provide constituents with: Coverage you can count on that cant be taken away No denials for a pre-existing condition; No spikes in premiums if you fall ill; No lifetime or annual limits of coverage

Families USA Health Action 2010 Help with premiums if you hit a rough patch Free preventive care Discounts on premiums for healthy behaviors Quality health care wherever you live Less red tape, less paperwork Lower premiums for older Americans

Families USA Health Action 2010 Resources Progressive States Network HHS Kaiser Family Foundation Herndon Alliance NCSL State Legislation Opposing Certain Health Reforms,