Msg. Feb. 12, 2007; “The Healthy Americans Act”

FINALLY! Someone has the spine to take a stand and propose changes in the healtcare “system” that will benefit American business and the American people. Check out Senator Wyden, D. Oregon, speech to the U.S. Senate, Jan. 16.; see his website for more details.

• guarantees private health care coverage that cannot be taken away for all Americans;
• provides benefits for all Americans equal to those of Members of Congress;
• provides incentives for individuals and insurers to focus on prevention, wellness and disease management;
• provides tough cost containment and saves $1.48 trillion over 10 years;
• and is fully paid for by spending the $2.2 trillion currently spent on health care in America.

The Senator is crafting and will propose legislation focused on preventative healthcare, universal coverage, and provider choice; “The Healthy Americans Act.” Hats off to Senator Wyden! The following is an excerpt from his recent speech on the senate floor:

“Senator Wyden Leads Federal Debate on Health Care Reform

January 16, 2007

Washington, DC – With 13 years having passed since the last national discussion of universal health care coverage, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate today, about the lack of federal action to provide health care for the estimated 46 million uninsured Americans. Below is the text of his speech as delivered.

Mr. WYDEN: Mr. President, for almost 13 years, it has been considered politically dangerous to come to the floor of the Senate and describe a fresh approach to fixing health care in America. I am going to do that this morning because I do not believe it is morally right for the Senate to duck on health care any longer…”

“…There are other parts of the Healthy Americans Act I wish to describe briefly. As the name of the legislation suggests, I believe strongly that fixing American health care requires a new ethic of health care prevention, a sharp new focus in keeping our citizens well, and trying to keep them from falling victim to skyrocketing rates of increase in diabetes, heart attack, and strokes. Spending on these chronic illnesses is soaring, and it is especially sad to see so many children and seniors fall victim to these diseases. Yet, many Government programs and private insurance devote most of their attention to treating Americans after they are ill and give short shrift to wellness. Under the Healthy Americans Act, there will be for the first time significant new incentives for all Americans to stay healthy. They are voluntary incentives, but ones that I think will make a real difference in building a national new ethic of wellness and health care prevention…”

• Read a transcript of Senator Wyden’s speech.

• Learn More About The Healthy Americans Act

• Read a Section by Section Explanation of the Legislation

• Read “Cost and Coverage Extimates for the Healthy Americans Act”

• Download the full text of the Healthy Americans Act

• See examples of how the Healthy Americans Act will help Americans afford quality healthcare.

• Senator Ron Wyden’s Website