ANA Reaffirms Commitment To Real Health Reform, Criticizes 'America's Healthy Future Act'

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 17 Sep 2009 - 6:00 PDT

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American Nurses Association (ANA) reaffirms its long standing advocacy for guaranteed, affordable, high-quality health care for all and is disappointed by today's release by the Senate Finance Committee of the Chairman's Mark.

"This legislation doesn't do enough to address the skyrocketing health care costs that contribute to more than half of the nation's bankruptcies," remarked ANA CEO Marla J. Weston, PhD, RN. "It sets higher limits on out of pocket medical costs, while providing fewer benefits. It fails to create competition in the marketplace, guaranteeing that insurers, not consumers, will experience a 'healthy future'. This legislation fails to provide the security and stability that consumers need and deserve."

ANA believes that health reform legislation should include a public health insurance plan option to provide broader choice for patients, increase affordability, foster marketplace competition and ensure access to services.

ANA will continue its work with lawmakers to ensure meaningful health care reform becomes a reality. ANA urges all nurses and health care professionals to be a part of the health care reform effort. Find out the latest on ANA's action on health reform and other legislation of importance to nurses by visiting http://www.rnaction.org/healthcare.

The ANA is the only full-service professional organization representing the interests of the nation's 2.9 million registered nurses through its constituent member nurses associations, its organizational affiliates, and its workforce advocacy affiliate, the Center for American Nurses.

Source
American Nurses Association

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