Link
to more information about the Wyden-Hatch "Health Care
That Works For All Americans Act"
Senate Approves Wyden-Hatch
Health Care Reform Plan
Medicare legislation will include “Health
Care that Works for All Americans,” other Wyden provisions
June 27, 2003
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden
(D-Ore.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) today won Senate passage of
their comprehensive health care reform legislation, the “Health
Care that Works for All Americans” Act. The bipartisan
measure, which maps out a national dialogue on health care to
be followed by hearings in Congress, was approved as an amendment
to the Senate’s Medicare prescription drug benefit bill
(S.1). It provides for a series of open, public community meetings
at which Americans can state their health care preferences,
and creates a Citizens’ Health Care Working Group to synthesize
and relay those preferences to Congress and the White House.
As approved by the Senate early today, the Wyden-Hatch measure
also guarantees hearings on the people’s recommendations
in both houses of Congress.
“For the first time in the history of health
care reform, Americans have a real shot at telling the government
what kind of health system they want and getting guaranteed
action from Congress,” said Wyden. “The Senate’s
approval moves our country one giant step closer to health care
that works for everyone.”
“This bill marks significant progress toward
identifying problems and solutions that Americans have with
their health care – it will create dialog and foster consensus,”
said Hatch. “Wyden-Hatch will empower every American to
make their voice heard on this most important of issues.”
The Citizens’ Health Care Working Group
created by the Wyden-Hatch provision will have 26 members, representing
a broad range of health care perspectives. They will develop
their health care reform recommendations to Congress directly
from public input at meetings nationwide and online, and the
public will be given an opportunity to comment on the Working
Group’s recommendations. The Working Group will then present
to Congress and the President the revised recommendations, including
any legislative proposals to implement those recommendations.
The Wyden-Hatch provision requires hearings in each congressional
committee of jurisdiction within 90 days of the Working Group’s
report to Congress.
The Wyden-Hatch concept of a national discussion
on health care and guaranteed action in Congress has gained
support from a diverse coalition of organizations including: