(Circulation. 1996;94:3051.)
© 1996 American Heart Association, Inc.
Articles |
Congress Passes Incremental Healthcare Reform
the Office of Internal Affairs, American Heart Association, Washington, DC.
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Introduction |
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After 4 long years of congressional debate, which generated thousands of pages of hearing records and dozens of healthcare reform proposals (some so comprehensive they would have provided "single-payer" universal coverage), Congress passed a new law simply addressing medical insurance coverage. This August, President Clinton signed into law the Health Insurance Reform Act of 1996.
Although it was limited in scope, the bipartisan initiative barely survived months of political infighting over a number of its provisions. With negotiators bogged down in details and passage appearing extremely doubtful, early this past summer a group of voluntary health organizations, including the American Heart Association, came forward to help jump start the process. In a letter to key congressional negotiators the group stated, ". . . on behalf of the millions of men, women and children with chronic disease and/or disabilities, [we] urge Congress not to let the window of opportunity close on health insurance reform . . . ." (written communication to congressional negotiators from health groups regarding healthcare reform, July 30, 1996).
Under current insurance practices, many Americans are denied coverage if they change or lose their jobs or are dropped from their existing plans because of preexisting health conditions. Compared with the insured, the uninsured use the nation's healthcare system less frequently, are more likely to be without a regular source of basic health care, are less likely to engage in preventive measures, and are more likely to delay seeking medical care. Because the uninsured are less likely to seek basic medical care, they