Capitol Conference Day 3: General Session

Today's general session began with Representative Tom Price (R-GA) joining us to offer his opinions about the current health reform bills. Representative Price is also an M.D., and he is uniquely poised to offer insight into what reforms need to occur in the United States health care system. Not surprisingly, he is not a fan of the bills currently on the table, and claims that the government taking responsibility for citizens' health care decreases accessibility, choice, responsibility and innovation. He even went so far as to quip, "When's the last time you went to the DMV and had a choice?" Price told NAHU members to urge their congressional representatives to 'stop the madness,' and share their and their clients' views about the current state of health care while they are on the Hill.

Representative Charlie Melancon (D-LA), who hails from the WHO DAT nation, as he was quick to remind us, summed up the goals of health care reform rather succinctly. According to Melancon, the ultimate goals are to lower costs for those who have health coverage, and insure those who aren't covered. He believes that bipartisan reform is not only necessary, but also possible. In Melancon's view, there is bipartisan agreement on 80% of health reform, and Congress needs to focus on the 80% they agree on and not on the 20% about which they disagree. Perhaps his most important point regarded the crafting of the current health care legislation: why would you want to craft legislation about something as meaningful and important as health care reform, and write it so you garner only the barest minimum of votes? Good, sound legislation should easily receive 250 or 260 votes (in the House). If you have to beg, borrow and steal, so to speak, in order to get your votes, perhaps the legislation just isn't good enough.

The day wrapped up with speeches by Dr. Douglas Holtz-Eakin, current president of DHE Consulting Group and former director of the Congressional Budget Office, and Kim Holland, Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner. Both shared their unique insights about the current bills, and according to Dr. Holtz-Eakin, the current health care bills are a "genuine threat to long-run prosperity and freedom in the United States." Ms. Holland shared her belief that consumers will always be better protected when they can depend on the professional agent community and their state insurance commissioners to keep their best interests in mind, and judging from the applause, every NAHU member in attendance agreed!

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and Capitol Conference is no different. After a lineup of fantastic speakers and two days of lobbying on Capitol Hill, it is our hope that members left Washington exhausted but fulfilled. Their voices are indeed being heard, and NAHU will continue to work after they are gone to ensure responsible health care reform is indeed enacted.