Health-care reform coalition rejects industry-led efforts

Skeptics of a plan by a health insurance industry trade association to delve into reforming the health-care system launched a preemptive press conference Monday to criticize a roundtable the latter is scheduled to hold Tuesday.

Health Care for America Now representatives said in a telephone press conference that people ought to be leery of the Campaign for an American Solution being pitched by American Health Insurance Plans, the trade organization aiming to build support for health-care reforms through a series of roundtables and town hall meeting across the country.The Columbus event will kickoff the national campaign.

"Americans understand that (the industry) puts profits before people and is not interested in the health of America. The last thing we can do is trust the health-care industry to fix the health-care mess," said Richard Kirsch, the national campaign manager of Health Care for America Now.

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The coalition comprises labor unions, large community-based membership groups, women's groups, doctors, nurses, small businesses and netroot (Internet, grass roots, political community) activists. It launched a $40 million campaign earlier this month involving 52 cities and the District of Columbia to push for what it calls "quality, affordable health care for every American."

Family health insurance premiums for Ohio workers from 2000 to 2006 rose 8.4 times more quickly than workers' paychecks, and the number of uninsured Ohioans totals 1.2 million, according to statistics provided by Health Care for America Now.

Robert Zirkelbach, spokesman for American Health Insurance Plans, said the focus of Tuesday's discussion is to create a "constructive dialogue with the people of Columbus and see how we can advance real solutions for health-care reform."

He brushed aside criticism of the industry's involvement in health-care reform and touted the services the industry provides.

"We are very proud of our record of paying claims and ... providing services that consumers want. We are having a constructive dialogue with stakeholders from across the political spectrum," Zirkelbach said.

The Campaign for an American Solution will take the trade organization's proposals to Americans to reach agreements regarding the principles of coverages, quality and affordability, he said. For more information on the organization's plans to cover the uninsured, to improve health-care safety and quality and to establish liability reform, clickhere.