Many Things To Like About House Health Bill Says Reform Advocate

Travis Martinez – University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

Following the release of the House Democrats’ health care reform bill, Larry McNeely with the U.S. Public Interest Research Group expressed his support for the legislation.

McNeely said that he believes the House version is strong in that it will develop a national health insurance exchange that will allow customers throughout the nation to negotiate better health care rates for themselves.

“Our hope is that in conference, it leans more towards the house bill [that] is going to be a national exchange, which is important because attached to the exchange is a pool of all participants in that exchange to negotiate better deals. This pool is going to be a lot bigger nationally,” said McNeely.

McNeely lauded the House’s inclusion of a public option, or government-run insurance plan, which, in his opinion, will “[provide] a competitor for states with one or two providers that dominate the insurance markets.”

He also delighted over a provision in the bill that would ban the private insurance industry from dropping patients or refusing coverage to them based on their having a preexisting medical condition.

“It’s really an incredible step forward. Not only does the…bill ban preexisting conditions abuses…consumers and families can finally have the security of knowing their insurance will be there when they expect to,” said McNeely.