NEWS RELEASE

March 9, 2009
PR-09/07
For additional information:
Jason Hammersla
202-289-6700

Letter urges congressional budget committees to consider cost savings in developing health care reform legislation

Group Letter to Congressional Budget Committees

"Requiring spending or revenue offsets for the entire cost of health reform within a ten year budget window, as required under a traditional pay-as-you-go rule, will significantly reduce the likelihood of enacting legislation to achieve essential reforms for long-term savings," the letter reads. "We therefore request that the committee develop a more flexible approach to pay-as-you-go for health care reform that reaffirms the importance of offsets but accommodates the need for significant short-term expenditures that will help set the health system on a path toward significant long-term savings and improvement in the long-run fiscal future of our country."

The letter is signed by 30 organizations representing employers, individuals, insurers and medical professionals. The letter calls for health reform legislation to "reduce costs by improving the quality and efficiency of health care and help ensure coverage for every American."

The American Benefits Council is available to comment on the group letter to the Budget Committees and health care reform generally. The Council issued its health care report and proposal, Condition Critical: Ten Prescriptions for Reforming Health Care Quality, Cost and Coverage, earlier this year.

"The Council and its employer members agree strongly with President Obama: we can no longer afford to put health care reform on hold," Council President James A. Klein said. "Today's letter to the budget committees demonstrates our desire for comprehensive health care reform legislation to be developed as quickly and collaboratively as possible."

For more information, or to arrange an interview with Council staff, please contact Jason Hammersla, Council director of communications, at jhammersla@abcstaff.org or by phone at 202-289-6700 (office) or (202) 253-5458 (cell).

The American Benefits Council is the national trade association for companies concerned about federal legislation and regulations affecting all aspects of the employee benefits system. The Councils member's represent the entire spectrum of the private employee benefits community and either sponsor directly or administer retirement and health plans covering more than 100 million Americans.