Health Care Reform is a National Priority for People With Arthritis

ATLANTA, March 19 /PRNewswire/ -- The Arthritis Foundation supports the efforts of Congress to enact meaningful health care reform to address the health care needs of the 46 million men, women and children with arthritis.  After listening to thousands of people with arthritis, the Arthritis Foundation released a set of health care reform principles that have been delivered to Congress and the administration to consider during health care reform deliberations.  

These principles support legislation that:

• Prohibits discrimination based on health status
• Eliminates lifetime caps on coverage and limits out-of-pocket expenses
• Provides coverage of dependents up to 26 years of age
• Establishes loan repayment for pediatric rheumatologists
• Improves access to evidence-based programs

"Today, after more than a year of discussion, debate and consideration, millions of people with arthritis are without insurance or underinsured and cannot afford to pay for medications that reduce their pain and prevent disability.  They look to Congress and the administration to provide meaningful health reform that will improve their lives," said John H. Klippel, MD, Arthritis Foundation president and CEO.

The Arthritis Foundation believes that legislative action is necessary to assure quality, affordable, essential health care for all Americans.  For more information about the Arthritis Foundation's position on health care reform visit http://www.arthritis.org/health-care-reform.php.

The Arthritis Foundation is the leading health organization addressing the needs of the 46 million Americans, including 300,000 children, living with arthritis, which is the nation's most common cause of disability. The Foundation helps individuals take control of arthritis by providing public health education; pursuing public policy and legislation; supporting research and conducting evidence-based programs to improve the quality of life for those living with arthritis. Information is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-283-7800 or www.arthritis.org.

SOURCE The Arthritis Foundation