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EXPANDING ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE FOR WORKING FAMILIES
New Solutions for America's 45 Million Uninsured; Protecting Vulnerable Families Against Soaring Costs and Health Care Bureaucracy
H.R. 525, the Small Business Health Fairness Act

According to figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of Americans who have no health insurance increased to 45 million Americans in 2004. Many of the newly uninsured are small business employees whose employers cannot afford to offer health plans to their workers because of skyrocketing health care costs.  

Over the last several years, House Republicans and Democrats alike have supported legislation to improve access to health care for uninsured working families by creating association health plans (AHPs) that allow small businesses to join together to purchase health insurance at a lower cost. Small businesses and their workers deserve the chance to obtain high quality health insurance at an affordable price, and Committee leaders will continue to push AHPs in the 109th Congress so Congress can provide quality health care to uninsured working families.

Issue Brief: Expanding Access to Quality Health Care for Working Families

Press Statements:

• Democrats' Rhetoric Doesn't Match Their Record, Says Education & the Workforce Chair - June 14, 2006

• House Workforce Committee Leaders Call on Senate to Expand Access to Quality Health Care - May 9, 2006

• U.S. House Subcommittee Examines Impact of State Mandates on Employer-Provided Health Care - May 4, 2006

• House Workforce Committee Chair Encourages Continued Action on a Senate Health Care Access Bill - March 15, 2006

• Boehner, Johnson Call for Quick Action on Senate Bill Aimed at Expanding Health Care Access for Uninsured American Families - November 3, 2005

• House Passes Bipartisan Bill to Provide Affordable Health Care Options to Small Businesses, Uninsured Working Families - July 26, 2005

• Witnesses Cite Pay-for-Performance Incentives as Effective Model for Improving Quality & Safety of Patient Care - May 17, 2005

• Witnesses Express Concern that Court Decision is Jeopardizing Employer-Sponsored Retiree Health Care Benefits - April 28, 2005

• Committee Approves Bipartisan AHP Bill to Give Uninsured Working Families Access to Affordable Health Care - March 16, 2005

• Johnson, Boehner Praise Senate for Introducing Bipartisan AHP Legislation, Urge Quick Action on Behalf of Uninsured Working Families - February 17, 2005

• Workforce Committee Leaders Criticize AARP for Filing Frivolous Lawsuit, Endangering Retiree Health Benefits - February 4, 2005

• Johnson, Bipartisan Group Introduces AHP Legislation to Provide Quality Health Care to Uninsured Working Families - February 2, 2005

Bill Summary:

• Small Business Health Fairness Act (H.R. 525):  Helping Workers Access Quality Health Insurance - July 27, 2005

Fact Sheets:

• Association Health Plans:  Providing Quality Health Insurance to Uninsured Working Families - July 27, 2005

• Myth vs. FACT:  Association Health Plans - July 27, 2005

Bush Administration Support:

• President Bush Applauds House Passage of the Small Business Health Fairness Act - July 26, 2005

• Statement of Administration Policy in Support of the Small Business Health Fairness Act (pdf) - July 26, 2005

• U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Applauds House Passage of Bush Administration's Plan To Reduce Number of Uninsured Americans - July 26, 2005

Dear Colleague Letters:

• Help Uninsured Working Families Access Affordable Health Care: Oppose the Democrat Substitute - July 26, 2005

• The Best Patient Protection for Uninsured Working Families is Affordable Access to Health Care - July 26, 2005

• Georgetown “Study” of AHPS is Wrong On the Facts: Support the Small Business Health Fairness Act (H.R. 525) - July 26, 2005

• Small Businesses and Uninsured Working Families Deserve Better Access to Affordable Health Care Options - July 26, 2005

• President Bush, Broad & Bipartisan Coalition Strongly Support Association Health Plans - July 25, 2005

• Support AHPs and Reduce the Cost of Quality Health Care for Uninsured American Families - July 25, 2005

• Bipartisan Bill to Provide Affordable Health Care Options for Millions of Uninsured Working Families on House Floor Tomorrow - July 25, 2005

• This Week: Key Votes For Association Health Plans! - July 25, 2005

• Last Day To Co-Sponsor The Bipartisan Small Business Health Fairness Act!! - April 12, 2005

• Support AHPs and Reduce the Cost of Quality Health Care for Uninsured American Families - March 2, 2005

Committee Hearings and Markups:

• On May 17, 2005, the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations held a hearing on "Examining Pay-For-Performance Measures and Other Trends in Employer-Sponsored Health Care" - Opening Statements and Witness Testimony

• On April 28, 2005, the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations held a hearing on "Challenges to Employee Efforts to Preserve Retiree Health Care Benefits" - Opening Statements and Witness Testimony

• On March 16, 2005, the Full Committee held a markup of H.R. 525, the Small Business Health Fairness Act, and approved the bill by a vote of 25 - 22.  Opening Statements and Related Documents

 

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