Health Care Reform Floor Votes - November 2, 2009
As a part of CHRISTUS Health’s commitment that no person should go without access to quality, affordable health care in our nation, our Putting Care Within Reach® campaign calls for health care reform that is faithful to the following principles. Health care should be:
- Available and accessible to everyone, paying special attention to the poor and vulnerable;
- Health- and prevention-oriented, with the goal of enhancing the health status of communities;
- Sufficiently and fairly financed;
- Transparent and consensus-driven in allocation of resources, and organized for cost-effective care and administration;
- Patient-centered and designed to address and protect health needs at all stages of life, from conception to natural death; and
- Safe, effective and designed to deliver the greatest possible quality.
Genuine health care reform that protects life and dignity is a moral imperative and a national obligation. This means care that respects the unborn, the patient with multiple sclerosis, the person living with cancer, the young mother, the addicted, the mentally ill, the frail elderly and the dying patient.
As health care providers, we know that individuals who lack health insurance are far less likely to receive basic health care services and are generally in poorer health as a result. Over the next several weeks, Congress plans to pass health care reform legislation. As the House of Representatives begins debate on health care reform legislation, it is important that our elected lawmakers hear from citizens who support reform that guarantees quality, safe and affordable health care for all.
There are difficult issues Congress will have to resolve in the amendment process, including Medicare reductions, Medicaid expansion subsidies, taxes and long-term reforms, such as whether Accountable Care Organizations can help manage cost growth to promote affordability and sustainability. The bill includes pro-life provisions that prohibit: (1) requiring abortion as a service that must be covered by private or public health plans; and (2) the use of taxpayer subsidies for abortion although the bill does not contain the accounting procedures that the Senate Finance bill uses to implement this requirement. We support reform that addresses health needs at all stages of life, from conception to natural death.
The House measure would bring America closer to fulfilling our mission to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. In the century since Theodore Roosevelt first proposed universal health care, this week marks the first time the House will vote to bring care within reach. It is important that the opportunity be realized and not squandered.
Please take a moment to review the attached message and send it to your Congressman asking for support of health care reform. Make sure your voice is heard in Congress!
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Thank you for all of your efforts on behalf of CHRISTUS Health!
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