Government
ACP backs bill empowering state reforms
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted June 11, 2007
The American College of Physicians last month endorsed the Health Coverage, Affordability, Responsibility and Equity Act of 2007. It would create advanceable, refundable tax credits for health insurance and allow states to establish health insurance purchasing pools and get federal Medicaid waivers aimed at boosting preventive care.
The tax credits would be available to uninsured working Americans earning less than 200% of the federal poverty level and who are ineligible for Medicaid or the State Children's Health Insurance Program.
An important feature of the bill, sponsored by Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D, Ohio), is the absence of price controls and insurance mandates, said ACP President David C. Dale, MD. "By offering robust incentives and choices to states, employers and consumers, the Health CARE Act has the potential of unifying, instead of dividing, key stakeholders."
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/06/11/gvbf0611.htm.
