I normally avoid correcting mistakes by the SEIU's bloggers -- who has the time -- but since the snow is blowing sideways and my kids are rebelling against more quality time at the moment, let's take a look at this post regarding a health care op/ed by Bruce Josten which appeared in The Hill. The gist of their post is that you can't trust Josten's claim that "For nearly two years, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has been working with members of Congress on a bipartisan basis to develop reform legislation that will lower the skyrocketing cost of care, improve quality and expand access to more Americans." because over the summer Chamber VP Randy Johnson was quoted in an AP article saying "I would say it's time to unload the powder and fill the musket," a quote which SEIU says they found because they have "a little time machine called the INTERNET."

Well since they have the internet, I am sure they read the full AP article in the proper context of real health care reform slipping away "as alarm grows over the direction of Democratic health care overhaul proposals." to include "a new government insurance plan that would compete with private insurers, and requirements for employers to provide health care to their employees or pay a fine." Or maybe they didn’t given their increasing frustration at the public’s rejection of government-run health care. See, while our goal for health reform is "legislation that will lower the skyrocketing cost of care, improve quality and expand access to more Americans;" their goal is putting in place a system to shift all health care to the public sector with, of course, the private sector paying for it (I wonder why).

So yes, we were concerned last summer, and are concerned today about health care reform which doesn't lower costs or improve health care. Instead we support, as Josten puts it, "simple three-pronged approach:"

First, control spiraling healthcare costs. There are a number of cost-reducing initiatives that have broad bipartisan support — medical liability reform, paying doctors based on quality, widespread adoption of health information technology, and allowing small businesses and individuals to pool their risk and deduct the costs of their insurance are just a few.

Second, make the insurance market work. Insurers should be prohibited from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions, turning people away, or charging vastly different rates for the same policies. However, for insurance reforms to work effectively it requires a fully insured marketplace and must be paired with a personal responsibility for all Americans to get health insurance.

Third, create real choice and competition through a health insurance exchange. Consumers should be able to easily compare insurance options in a way that is easy to understand, and any person or business should have access to a greater range of plans.

America desperately needs healthcare reform and Congress now has what so many Americans are striving for — an opportunity to start over and get things right. It’s time for everyone to come back to the table and work on a healthcare reform package that’s good for families, good for businesses and good for America.

And while we are here let's use that "little time machine called the INTERNET"

America is home to some of the finest medical facilities, technologies, innovations, treatments, and human talent. We cover 85% of our people, and the health sector is generating thousands of new jobs. At the same time, too many Americans are without insurance for various reasons, costs are too high, and our system is plagued with outdated information technology, too many lawsuits, and a lack of personal responsibility. So where do we go from here? Let me suggest five core ideas that can guide our nation to more affordable and accessible quality health care... (December 2007)

[O]ur concern for health care is nothing new.  The business community has been saying for years that, although American health care does many things right, as a nation we pay more to stay well than any other modern society. The Chamber is committed to making sure that everyone in America has access to quality and affordable health care. The backbone of a strong economy, like ours, is a healthy workforce. If we fail to act, spiraling costs will force businesses and families to drop coverage...Some believe the answer to these challenges is Washington-run health care. That is not the answer. Americans want common sense, not Washington, to govern how they interact with doctors and hospitals. (January 2008)

Last week we examined the strengths and weaknesses of the U.S. health care system...So where do we go from here? First, we must recognize the fact that we will never be able to increase coverage if we don’t reduce costs and spur innovation. Eighty percent of our health care spending goes to less than 20% of the population, many of whom are suffering from preventable chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease. Until we get a handle on those costs, the rest of the health care debate is pointless. (February 2008)

One of the key opportunities for both the U.S. health care delivery system and the business community is to develop programs to maximize the capabilities of health information technology and its adaptation to various provider sectors, as well as ensure a nationwide interoperable electronic system. The goal of using health information technology is to dramatically increase transparency and enhance healthcare quality and value. (March 2008)

For the past five consecutive years, employers have seen double-digit health care premium increases. At least 1.5 million Americans are sickened, injured, or killed each year by errors in prescribing, dispensing, and taking medications. Nearly 47 million Americans still lack health insurance. The United States has the world’s best health care, but the delivery system is wasteful and inefficient. Congress must take steps now to improve our broken health care system. (April 2008)

[W]e are having the wrong conversation about health care in this country; or, at best, an incomplete conversation. Quite simply we are setting the wrong expectations for the American people, and nowhere is this more evident than on the campaign trail. The wrong conversation focuses inordinately on the uninsured, while offering only lip service to spiraling costs, medical accidents, frivolous lawsuits, and the need to focus on wellness and prevention.The wrong conversation promises Cadillac benefits and services with the promise that "someone else" will pay for. The wrong conversation demands little responsibility from each of us as patients, keeping ourselves healthy, or as consumers, getting informed and making sound decisions. The wrong conversation finds us grasping for the silver bullet solution such as universal coverage, a single payer system, or an employer mandate; as if these tactics would magically resolve our health care challenges. The fact is we need broader, bottom-up reforms across the board to deal with the magnitude of the challenges we face. (May 2008)

Instead of imposing an expensive, government-run health care system on the American people, let's implement some commonsense ideas to make health care more affordable and accessible. If we do that, American health care will once again be seen as an opportunity - not as a problem. (June 2008)

Many candidates and pundits suggest that small changes won’t work — that what we really need is a sweeping, top-down upheaval that can only happen through a federal solution. They want one big stroke to provide an instant panacea. But guess what? A single solution doesn’t exist. And a top-down government solution engineered by politicians in Washington won’t work! We need a multifaceted program of wellness and prevention, transparency, technology, and consumer responsibility to cover more people and provide better care at lower cost...Ultimately, as a nation, we must decide whether we want a Band-Aid solution or a real solution. We need quality care, not just universal care. We need affordable care, not the false promise of “free” care. The real goal is good health, not just good health care. (July 2008)

James Gelfand, the Chamber's health policy expert, spoke to the crowd about health care, politics and the next Congress. Some key points: Massive overarching proposals will not only complicate the system, they probably don’t have a chance of gaining the broad support needed to pass anyway. We need to identify specific problems and solve them one by one with precision and care. Creating a system that will allow for the synchronization of electronic records can help bring down costs and make it possible for our mobile society to get consistent quality care from city to city. (August 2008)

The uninsured do represent a significant problem, and a solution must found, but the number of truly uninsured who need assistance is not nearly as large as is often claimed. Finding a solution for 10 million to 15 million people—the real number—is much different than 45 million. And while we are developing solutions we must also address the different problems represented by the groups above. In all cases a good first step would be passing small group market reforms so that smaller businesses can offer coverage at an affordable price for their millions of employees. Using real numbers and smart policies we can ensure that all Americans have the coverage they need. (September 2008)

Neither presidential proposal on health care reform is perfect, very little in this world is. But the Chamber is committed to ensuring that we have a world-class health care system, and equally committed to working with the next Administration to ensure that the health reform debate builds on a foundation that works – the employer sponsored system. (October 2008)

The Chamber is pushing for increases in the annual contribution limits and allowing HSA contributions to be used to pay for premiums. Owen also endorsed other options, including tax credits, amendments to the tax code to make it easier for small businesses to offer cafeteria plans and flexible spending accounts, and permitting small businesses to band together across state lines to purchase insurance through trade and professional associations. (November 2008)

[L]et's focus on lowering the costs of health care, and improving the quality. More than ten million people are already eligible for free coverage; they just haven't filled out the forms. And allowing small businesses to band together and purchase health care would save the government money. These sound like no-brainer solutions to me. (December 2008)

Wow, lot's of stuff, and only one year. Wonder why the SEIU couldn't find any of it? I'll help them out some more and do 2009 later.