Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) unveiled his vision for achieving universal health care coverage while improving health care quality and efficiency.

His health reform plan would expand public health insurance programs and create a national health insurance exchange for individuals and small business; transform and enhance the primary care system; transition to a value-based system of payment; invest in health information technology; and redouble efforts to prevent fraud, waste and abuse in public programs.

"The health care system in our country is broken for individual Americans and it's straining our economy," Baucus said at a press conference on Capitol Hill. He added, "There's no way to resolve America's economic troubles without fixing the health care system." AHA President and CEO Rich Umbdenstock said Baucus' plan "puts forward many good ideas that the nation should consider as we build a better health care system." He added, "We stand ready to work with Senator Baucus, other congressional leaders and President-elect Obama to improve health and health care in America."

For information on the AHA's framework for health reform, Health for Life: Better Health. Better Health Care, visit www.aha.org or www.healthforlifeamerica.net.

Also read the AMA statement:
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/20286.html

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