Panel Recommends Health Care Guarantee | Health | ABC26.com | WGNO-TV

Panel Recommends Health Care Guarantee

By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer

September 25, 2006, 8:42 AM CDT

WASHINGTON — So what do Americans want when it comes to health care? Two things, according to a citizens group created by Congress: protection for all from high medical expenses and guaranteed coverage for specific checkups and treatments.

The group's call for universal health benefits will be delivered to President Bush on Monday. But, in many ways, the recommendations clash with Bush's stance that consumers should bear more responsibility for their initial medical expenses.

"Americans clearly want a system that guarantees health care for everyone," said the Citizens' Health Care Working Group, whose 15 members represent consumers, the disabled, business, organized labor and health care providers. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt also is a member.

The president is expected to respond to the report, and five congressional committees are to hold hearings on its findings.

Congress created the citizens' group in late 2003 when it established a prescription drug benefit under Medicare. During 18 months, the group heard from 6,650 people at 84 meetings around the country. More than 14,000 people responded to its Internet poll.

The report noted that more than 1 million people have been added to the ranks of the uninsured since the group started meeting.

The report acknowledged that some of its findings will be controversial because the issues involved are complex and challenging. The report added that "it will take time, technical expertise and, especially a great deal of political will to implement these strategies."

Grace-Marie Turner, president of the Galen Institute, Inc., who saw the group's interim recommendations but not the final report, said the recommendations won't work.

"It's a utopian wish list that I just don't think is a practical political and policy recommendation," said Turner, whose organization calls for consumers to determine the kind of coverage they want.

The problem, she said, is defining what exams and treatments should be guaranteed by the government. She said providers will line up at the door to have their services included.

"The core benefits package would wind up inevitably becoming so comprehensive that nothing would be excluded," she said. "Then it becomes prohibitively expensive."

The citizens' group recognized the challenge of determining what's guaranteed. It called for an independent, nonpartisan group to set the benefits, such as an annual breast cancer exam or physical.

"It would be an ongoing entity with stable funding, to guarantee its independence and to ensure that the benefit package continues to be responsive to evolving medical knowledge and practice," the report said.

Another sticking point will be costs. The group said consumers believe there is enough money to make the changes the committee seeks. The government should first transfer money from other programs to pay for the core benefits.

"Yet when posed questions about the possible need for new revenues, we found, across the board, that majorities were willing to pay more to ensure that all Americans are covered," the group said.

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On the Net:

Citizens' Health Care Working Group: http://www.citizenshealthcare.gov.