NO QUICK FIXES TO FHEALTH CARE REFORM

As the Congress continues to race toward its August recess, the Liberal Leadership is becoming increasingly concerned about the prospects of passing health care reform this session. I, too, want to improve our health care delivery system, but instead of panicking and slapping together a 'politically viable' package, I want to make sure it is done right -- not done simply to meet an arbitrary timetable.

The costs of reforming health care incorrectly are disastrous, and passing any measure based on the original Clintoncare package would be a means to that end. For instance, recent studies illustrate how the White House plan would adversely impact Missouri workers. Two Ohio University economists project our state would lose 21,800 jobs under Clintoncare, while another economic forecast estimates 492,021 Missourians would face reduced wages, hours, or benefits. We cannot afford these consequences.

Instead, Congress should be looking at improving the cost, quality, and access of care available to all Americans. I am cosponsoring initiatives that, among other provisions, target job-to-job portability, pre-existing conditions, preventative care, self-employed tax deductions, administrative simplification, and medical malpractice. Common sense says let's fix what's wrong with the nation's health care system without destroying what's right with it. Furthermore, Americans should not have to pay more for less.

In the days ahead as health care reform, hopefully, comes more into focus, I will remain mindful of any package's ramifications on jobs, how it directly affects folks in the Eighth District, what it is going to cost, and what it is going to deliver. Again, let's concern ourselves with doing it well, rather than doing it quickly. We simply cannot settle for a "quick fix" approach just so the Congress can say it passed something.

Bill Emerson represents the 8th district in the U.S. House of Representatives.