Patients to Congress: Continue Working on Health Care Reform

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Jan 20, 2010, 03:30 ET

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Health Council (NHC), an organization providing a united voice for the more than 133 million people with chronic diseases and disabilities and their family caregivers, today sent a letter to Congress urging the House and Senate to "continue working to accomplish the long-sought goal of health care reform."

NHC President Myrl Weinberg applauded Members for the hard work that has already gone into crafting legislation and pressed them to enact comprehensive, meaningful health care reform that will benefit the patient community.

"The NHC supports legislation that incorporates core principles essential to the chronic disease and disability patient community. These principles include covering everyone, curbing costs responsibly rather than simply shifting costs to patients, guaranteeing coverage regardless of pre-existing conditions, eliminating lifetime and annual caps on health insurance, and ensuring access to long-term and end-of-life care. These values transcend partisan differences, benefiting not only the patient and family caregiver community but society as a whole by meeting our shared health care needs while also addressing rapidly rising health care spending.

"Despite the political circumstances literally changing overnight, the day-to-day realities for the Americans we represent continue to be filled with health challenges and financial uncertainty as they struggle with diseases and disabilities. We urge you to continue working to accomplish the long-sought goal of health care reform to help those most in need of a better functioning health care system."

The NHC is the only organization of its kind that brings together all segments of the health community. Made up of more than 100 member organizations and businesses, its core membership includes 50 of the nation's leading patient advocacy groups, which control its governance. Other members include professional and membership associations, nonprofit organizations with an interest in health, and major pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotechnology companies.

SOURCE National Health Council