[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 69 (Monday, May 17, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E876]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH FAIRNESS ACT OF 2004

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 14, 2004

  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition of H.R. 4281 and the 
association health plans it creates.
  This bill does nothing to help uninsured Americans, hurts those who 
enroll in the plans and will even cause healthcare costs to go up.
  There are 44 million Americans who are uninsured in this country and 
this bill will not even help one percent of them. Not one percent!
  A Congressional Budget Office study showed that only 360,000 
uninsured Americans would join AHP's. There has to be a better way to 
help 44 million uninsured Americans.
  What is just as bad is that AHP's will use loopholes to get around 
state health regulations. This will leave consumers who enroll in these 
plans without needed safeguards.
  If an AHP denies someone a cancer treatment or diabetic supplies that 
person may not have the right to appeal the decision. Their health will 
suffer and they will be left with no options.
  AHP's will enroll only the healthiest Americans. This will leave 
those other Americans, the ones who are sick and the ones who take 
prescription drugs, with fewer options.
  According to the Congressional Budget Office up to 20 million 
Americans will face higher healthcare costs. 20 million!
  Health insurers will give breaks to the AHP's and charge other 
consumers more.
  These higher healthcare costs could cause up to 10,000 Americans to 
become uninsured.
  There is a better way to help small businesses and the uninsured.
  That is why I support the Democratic substitute to the AHP bill.
  The substitute will provide small businesses and their employees with 
affordable quality health insurance. The plan is even similar to what 
the federal government offers its employees.
  The substitute will protect patients by making sure the insurers are 
overseen by the states.
  And finally this substitute will not raise the price of healthcare.
  H.R. 4281 will not help small businesses or their employees.
  By voting for the substitute we will help these businesses. We will 
help their employees and we will help all Americans have access to and 
afford health insurance.

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