EPPN urges action on health-care reform
Episcopal News Service. November 5, 2009 [110509-01]
ENS staff
The Episcopal Public Policy Network (EPPN) has issued an appeal for church members to urge Congress to pass the Affordable Health Care for America Act of 2009.
"Health care costs have been sky rocketing. Many people don't have access to insurance, affordable or not," a Nov. 4 EPPN alert said. "The time for action is now."
The EPPN alert, which is emailed to about 25,000 Episcopalians and religious advocates, noted that the House of Representatives is poised to vote on H.R. 3962, Affordable Health Care for America Act of 2009, which would provide access to affordable health care insurance for every person regardless of age, income, or health care status. "Passage of this bill will mark the beginning of the effort to guarantee the assurance of affordable, quality health care coverage and peace of mind to American families, providing them with better care while costing them less," the alert said.
The Episcopal Church has passed resolutions on numerous occasions stating that all people should have access to quality affordable health care. Most recently, July's General Convention passed several health-care-related resolutions (C071, D048 and D088) in support of universal access to quality and affordable health care in the United States and called on Congress to pass comprehensive health-care reform this year.
In September, seven Episcopal bishops, working together as "Bishops Working for a Just World," made their annual trip to Washington, D.C., to lobby Congress on health care and immigration reform, as well as stricter environmental protection.
"H.R. 3962 would establish a mandate for everyone to have health insurance, expand eligibility for Medicaid, and establish new health insurance exchanges through which some people could purchase subsidized coverage," the EPPN alert says. "It would bring an end to costly co-pays and deductibles for preventive care and rate increases based on pre-existing conditions. Further, the bill offers access to a number of prevention and wellness services, such as community health centers and community-based wellness programs.
"The bill further reauthorizes the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, whose last authorization expired in 2001, and includes key provisions to better ensure access to quality health care for Native Americans. Unlike the previous House proposal, according to the CBO [Congressional Budget Office], this revised bill reduces the deficit by $30 billion over the first 10 years. Affordable Health Care for America Act is the first major attempt to fix America's health care crisis by making health care more accessible, more affordable, and more effective."
Through the EPPN website, individuals can access resources and send a letter asking their legislators to support H.R. 3962.
"Congress has an opportunity to take the first major step toward enacting comprehensive health care reform legislation that will guarantee every American access to quality affordable health care; provide families with help in paying rising premiums and maintaining coverage; and end waste, fraud and abuse through health systems modernization," the alert concluded.