[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 117 (Friday, August 2, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9477-S9478]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           THE HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM ACT CONFERENCE REPORT

  Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to rise in support of the 
conference report to S. 1028, the Health Insurance Portability and 
Accountability Act of 1996. The road leading to this compromise has 
been long and tortuous, but I'm happy that the leaders in this effort 
have finally come to an agreement.
  Over the past 5 years, the issue of health care reform has been at 
the top of our national agenda. The need for an overhaul in our health 
care delivery system was a centerpiece of the last Presidential 
campaign, and our inability to enact comprehensive reform legislation 2 
years ago was a profound disappointment. At the same time, there 
remains a firm national consensus that something must be done to reform 
the health care system.
  The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that between 32 
and 37 million Americans have no health insurance, and an additional 50 
to 60 million are underinsured. As stated by the Office of Management 
and Budget, a total of 13 percent of all Americans are completely 
uninsured, with as many as 28 percent without insurance for 1 month or 
more. The Labor Department reports that each year, 1 million people 
lose their health insurance.
  As currently structured, the private health insurance market provides 
an insufficient level of coverage for individuals and families with 
major health problems and makes it difficult for employers to obtain 
adequate coverage for their employees. This is especially true of small 
businesses.
  The Health Insurance Reform Act will reduce many of the existing 
barriers to obtaining insurance coverage by making it easier for people 
who change jobs or lose their jobs to maintain adequate coverage. As 
many as 25 million Americans will be helped by this legislation, since 
its protects portability and against losing insurance due to 
preexisting medical conditions.
  This measure builds upon innovative and successful state reforms and 
enhances the private market by requiring health plans to compete based 
on quality, price, and service instead of refusing to offer coverage to 
those who are

[[Page S9478]]

in poor health and need it the most. It would also provide much-needed 
momentum for the more comprehensive reform that is still needed. 
Equally important, it would not increase Federal spending--because of 
offsets--impose new or expensive requirements on individuals, 
employers, or States, or create new Federal layers of bureaucracy.

  This measure enjoys wide bipartisan support in Congress and from a 
host of organizations, including the National Association of 
Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Governors 
Association, the American Medical Association, the American Hospital 
Association, Independent Insurance Agents of America, and the 
Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities. Virtually every medical 
group in the country has endorsed the bill and the House passed it by 
an overwhelming vote of 421 to 2.
  I want to commend Senators Kennedy and Kassebaum for their 
outstanding leadership in bringing us this conference report. They have 
been tenacious and steadfast when it would have been understandable if 
they had just called it a day and moved on. It is a sound, targeted, 
market-based reform measure that will make it easier for millions of 
Americans to change jobs without the fear of losing their health 
coverage.
  I must say that I share the disappointment of Senators Domenici, 
Wellstone, Simpson and others that their amendment guaranteeing parity 
of coverage for mental and physical conditions was dropped by the 
conference committee. I sincerely hope that the next Congress will 
again take a close look at mental health coverage and reconsider giving 
it parity. Too many citizens have mental health conditions that not 
only affect their personal lives, but also lower their productivity and 
lead to serious physical problems. This results in higher costs to the 
health care system and to employers.
  While this bill does not make all the necessary changes we need in 
the health care system, it does make a series of valuable reforms that 
will make a discernible difference in the lives of millions of our 
citizens. It does so without interfering with those parts of the system 
which work and without taking away the ability of States to implement 
their own reforms. If we learned anything from the health care debate 
in 1994, it is that our system must be reformed gradually and 
incrementally. The Health Insurance Reform Act before us is an example 
of the kind of incremental changes that can be enacted step-by-step in 
a bipartisan, collegial manner. Hopefully, this will serve as a model 
for future legislative reforms to our health care system and prompt the 
two sides of the aisle to seek more ways of working together for the 
betterment of the Nation.
  Again, I congratulate the managers of this bill and am proud to lend 
my support.
  I thank the Chair and yield the floor.
  Mr. PRESSLER addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from South Dakota.

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