National health insurance proposals were debated throughout 2009 and debate is continuing into 2010. Proposals include cost containment measures such as wellness incentives and hospital efficiency measures. However, each also contains requirements that place burdens on business and create enormous new government costs.
At 2009 meetings of the Public Policy Committee of the Region's Chamber, James Gelfand of the US Chamber of Commerce addressed business implications of each proposal. View June minutes and December minutes of these Public Policy Committee meeting discussions. The committee agreed that the Region’s Chamber should encourage measures to contain health care costs while opposing provisions to tax health care benefits and mandates on employers to provide health insurance or pay a penalty. The Region's Chamber Letter states this position to Congressional legislators.
The links to the right connect to articles and information on this complex issue. We encourage all members to inform themselves on the topic of national health insurance and share informed opinions with their representatives in the U.S. Congress.
