"The President and The American People Want and Need This"

Critical question for supporters of the recently passed Health Care Reform Law:

Is the Democratic Senate actually nullifying positive aspects of the health care law and therefore working against the interests of the American people?

Isn’t the Senate’s refusal to move on the recently passed House Bill repealing the “Monopolistic” Insurance Industry “Anti-trust” Exemption actually making the President’s claims to be taking on the Insurance Industry disingenuous. Further, doesn't passing the President's Health Care plan without repealing the “Anti-Trust” Exemption actually continue to allow the insurance companies to legally price fix, collude, bid rig and use other monopolistic practices? And most critically, doesn’t this largely nullify vitally needed cost control efforts claimed in the new Health Care Law? (See Link Below) The Senate has the wind at their back and has proved in this past week that they can act quickly and decisively. Why not then move immediately on this vitally important cost controlling aspect of reform?

It shouldn’t be hard…both parties in the House acted decisively and responsibly in moving to end this outdated exemption on February 24th as HR 4626 passed overwhelmingly 406-19. And to show the remarkable depth of bipartisan support for this critical Bill…among the 406 were actually both Speaker Pelosi and Representative Cantor. Further, the House Bill has the broadest of popular bipartisan support…is only two pages long, clearly states its purpose, and took only two days to pass. Most importantly, any Senators from either party who would stand in the way of repealing this dubious "monopolistic” benefit to the Health Insurance Industry would be sending the clearest of signals to Americans: I work for them...not you.

Again, this is the logical prerequisite for all health insurance reform as continuing to allow this outdated and anti-competitive exemption is simply indefensible and cannot be supported if the goal is to honestly and responsibly address the skyrocketing and systemically threatening costs of health care. It is simply impossible to reasonably and honesty argue about encouraging competitive market forces in the Health Insurance Industry while continuing to legally allow that same industry to avoid the competition laws that apply to “every” other business in the United States with the exception of Major League Baseball. And regardless of your feelings on any other aspect of health care reform this is something that we should "all" be able to agree upon--This "Monopolistic" exemption should be ended immediately. Moreover, the nation has been rubbed raw by the process and quickly passing a repeal of the exemption would be a "common ground" healing gesture by Congress that would exemplify the responsible and constructive problem solving behavior from both parties that so much of the nation longs for.

The President wants this… Secretary Sebelius wants this… House Democrats and Republicans want this…And most importantly the American people want this. It’s now time for the Senate to truly follow through with Senator Patrick Leahy’s plan and effectively take on the Insurance Industry for the American people.

*Comprehensive article that substantially covers the crucial role that this exemption plays in allowing the health insurance industry to legally price fix, collude and use other monopolistic practices:

Key passage:
"The health reform bills that have passed the House and Senate are designed to create a more competitive and consumer-friendly insurance marketplace. Insurance exchanges, market reforms, and new transparency requirements on coverage and cost-sharing structures will help consumers find and purchase cost-effective, high-quality coverage. Allowing an outdated antitrust exemption to undermine these important reforms would be a terrible mistake. If this exemption continues to exist, insurance companies can easily kill any forms of new competition through market allocations, price fixing, or other collusive arrangements."

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/02/health_antitrust101.html

Please strongly encourage the Senate to repeal this indefensible exemption immediately.

Link to Information Regarding Senator Patrick Leahy’s Plan:

http://ga3.org/campaign/hcr_antitrust