Groups urge Congress to move on health reform 'without delay'

February 22, 2010

The Hill's Blog Briefing Room
By Michael O'Brien

A broad coalition of groups wrote House and Senate leaders Monday to ask for a meeting to discuss moving forward on health reform "without delay."

The leaders of nine health and liberal activist groups wrote party leaders in both Houses, urging them to use this Thursday's healthcare summit with President Barack Obama to move on health reform as quickly as possible.

"The Health Reform Summit convened by the President provides an important opportunity to find out if bipartisanship can be achieved to enact meaningful health care reform," the leaders wrote. "We welcome this effort. We also believe that the success of the Summit is dependent on whether it truly moves the nation to meaningful health care reform this year."

Successful health reform, they wrote, was denoted by a bill that would bring down premiums, extend coverage to the uninsured, eliminate waste and fraud in the existing healthcare system, allow consumers greater portability with their health plans, and ensure fiscal sustainability for the health plan.

The letter was written on behalf of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association, the American Nurses Association, Consumers Union, Families USA, the National Association of Community Health Centers, PICO National Network, and SEIU Healthcare.

"In their entirety, we believe the bills that the Senate and House have passed would achieve meaningful reform," the groups wrote. "We welcome ideas that strengthen these historic improvements for America’s families and businesses, and we welcome alternative ways for truly achieving meaningful reform. But doing less than that is not acceptable."

"Congress and the President should move expeditiously to complete the almost century-old goal of meaningful reform without delay," they added. "We respectfully request a meeting with you to discuss how we can proceed together towards  our mutual goal of enacting meaningful reform."