[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 19, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H6514]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   MEDICAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS ARE NEW APPROACH WITH PROVEN TRACK RECORD

  (Mr. BALLENGER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, medical savings accounts have become a 
focal point for this whole debate over the health care reform. MSA's 
are a new approach, but they do have a proven track record.
  A recent study by researchers at Cleveland State University prove the 
effectiveness of MSA's. They studied 27 Ohio firms of less than 200 
employees. The average employee had lower out-of-pocket costs--as much 
as $1,355 per family. The firms themselves saved an average of 12 
percent a year without passing on the savings to their employees.
  Mr. Speaker, as of last year, 17 States have passed MSA laws, another 
11 are considering them, and another 11 have called on Congress to 
enact MSA's. Even the United Mine Workers offers MSA's to its members. 
Let us join the trend toward serious, workable health care reform; let 
us follow the lead of the States and enact the kind of reforms that 
have a proven track record.

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