Issues
Health Care
Position
Access to affordable health insurance in a competitive marketplace is necessary for a healthy workforce. The Chamber Action Network believes that individuals, businesses, and state government each have a role to play if we are to reduce the number of uninsured in Maryland.
Congress is currently considering sweeping legislation that will alter access and payment for health care. While legislation is urgently needed to control the growth of health care costs, the bills reported by Senate and House Committees to date further increase health care spending and create new taxes on employers. The Maryland Chamber of Commerce urges you to contact your Senators and Representative and urge them to oppose the flawed health care proposals in their current form.
The Maryland Chamber supports health care reforms that would control costs, expand coverage and improve quality care. Health care reform legislation can accomplish these goals by including measures to address medical liability reform, reduce unnecessary medical tests and procedures, enhance wellness programs and preventive medicine, and require individuals to purchase health insurance.
Unfortunately, the proposals under consideration include all of the usual job-killing employer mandates that you have seen in recent state legislation – and more, including: pay or play, payroll taxes on employers, minimum employer subsidy levels for coverage, “free-rider” penalties, increased grounds for lawsuits against health care providers and employers for adverse plan decisions, and a “public plan” option that will shift costs to private plans.
Take Action
- Tell Congress to Oppose Flawed Health Care Proposals
The federal government is in the process of preparing an overhaul of the U.S. health care system, and it goes far beyond covering the uninsured. Congressional proposals could mean rationed health care, employer mandates, and less economic security for all Americans.
Health Care Resources
- Side-by-Side Comparison of House and Senate Bills (pdf)
The National Retail Federation posted a great side-by-side comparison of the House and Senate health care bills. - Framework for Comprehensive Health Care Reform (pdf)
This document outlines the framework of a plan being discussed by the Senate Finance Committee. - U.S. Chamber of Commerce Health Care Toolkit
- Maryland Chamber Health Care Bill Positions
View a list of bill positions and position statements from the Maryland Chamber of Commerce.
Health Care Entries From the Blog
- Meet Our Public Policy Team
Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 12:31 PM
By Will Burns, Communications Director, Maryland Chamber of Commerce - Federal Health Care Update
Wednesday, December 30, 2009 at 11:59 AM
By Ronald W. Wineholt, Vice President of Government Affairs, Maryland Chamber of Commerce - Side-by-Side Comparison of Health Care Bills
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at 10:08 AM
By Will Burns, Communications Director, Maryland Chamber of Commerce - Maryland Chamber Unveils 2010 Business Agenda
Monday, November 16, 2009 at 08:25 AM
By Will Burns, Communications Director, Maryland Chamber of Commerce - Governor Outlines Plan to Strengthen Small Business
Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 11:21 AM
By Will Burns, Communications Director, Maryland Chamber of Commerce - More Health Care Blog Entries
Health Care News
- Bill aims to expand dependent coverage to age 30
MarylandReporter.com - Md. adults under 30 could get parent's health care
CNBC - Business groups gird for session
The Gazette - Health care reform would mean more costs for businesses
The Daily Record - Some Md. health leaders balk at Senate health bill's tax on procedures, fees for businesses
Baltimore Business Journal
