The Speaker: No 'incrementalism' on Health Care Reform (Excerpts of planned remarks at summit)

[jefferson_dem]

The Speaker: No 'incrementalism'
By: Politico Staff
February 25, 2010 07:57 AM EST

From Speaker Nancy Pelosi's remarks prepared for delivery at President Obama's health-care summit on Thursday:

Traveling around the country, we’ve all heard stories about people unable to pay their medical bills. I’ve even seen a grown man cry – a senior citizen from Michigan, whose wife had been sick for 16 years. He didn’t know how he’d pay the medical bills. He was too proud to ask his children for help – they had financial challenges of their own. He worried he might lose his house because of the cost of care. All he could ask was: how can I tell my children?

His story and others illustrate why reform is so critical and why inaction and incrementalism are simply unacceptable.

As the President has said many times, health care reform is entitlement reform – and its success will help ensure a more secure fiscal future.

We also know that health care reform is about our economy. Right now, health care costs are weighing down businesses as they compete here at home and around the world.

This bill is about:
—Innovation and competitiveness
—Prevention and wellness
—A higher quality of care and a healthier America

Health care reform is about jobs – and the President’s proposal could create 4 million jobs over the life of the bill; 400,000 jobs this year.

As we go forward, our reform efforts must pass the Triple-A test, reaching our three key goals:
—Affordability for the middle class
—Accessibility for all Americans
—Accountability for the insurance industry

Let’s get to work to achieve our goal of affordable and accessible health care for all.

http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=053308CD-18FE-70B2-A847B78273AF658D

[alc]

1. one of us is confused

This bill is about:
—Innovation and competitiveness
—Prevention and wellness
—A higher quality of care and a healthier America


Since last July all I've heard about is health INSURANCE reform without much (any) emphasis on the above. "Prevention and wellness" may be a side effect of the insurance reform if more people can see doctors for regular checkups and in early stages of illness. But insurance reform does not guarantee access to doctors (co-pay can be too high, doctors may be able to refuse "basic" insurance so you need the "supplement", lack of doctors if we add 50 million people with access). Innovation and quality are not addressed at all (that I've seen).


Maybe (hopefully) she's talking about the bill going forward and they intend to get back to health care reform instead of health insurance reform.

[Clio the Leo]

2. kick and rec NT