Outlines Principles for Reform

The U.S. Chamber is raising its voice in the national health care debate, advocating a mix of public and private sector solutions to improve health care quality, affordability, and accessibility.

Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue outlined the following five core principles of health care reform during a major address at a conference in Peoria, Illinois, this past November.

Avoid employer mandates. They drive up costs, shrink payrolls, and jeopardize health benefits.

Restore the viability of employer-sponsored health insurance. Permitting small businesses to band together across state lines for the purpose of purchasing coverage and protecting federal laws so that employers do not have to comply with a patchwork of state health care rules and regulations would strengthen the current system.

Revitalize the individual health care market. Increasing annual contribution limits for health savings accounts (HSAs) and allowing these funds to be used for buying health insurance would make HSAs more attractive. In addition, employers and individuals should have equitable tax incentives for purchasing insurance.

Enact medical liability reform and address medical mistakes. The reduced threat of frivolous lawsuits and the widespread adoption of health information tech-nology would significantly improve the quality of care and would lower costs.

Launch a grassroots revolution in wellness and prevention. Costly illnesses can be prevented with checkups and healthy lifestyles.

Affordable health care is increasingly unattainable for the nation's small businesses. According to a survey by benefits firm Mercer, 61% of employers with 200 or fewer workers offered health insurance in 2007. That's a drop from 63% in 2006.

Read the speech