Obama Lauds Senate Health Care Legislation
WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- President Barack Obama said the health-care bill
unveiled by a key Senate panel Thursday "reflects many of the principles I've
laid out," including the concept of a public health insurance option.
"The Senate HELP committee has produced legislation that lowers costs,
protects choice of doctors and plans, and assures quality and affordable health
care for Americans," Obama said in a statement.
He said that when the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
measure is merged with a companion bill crafted by the Senate Finance Committee,
the final product will be deficit neutral, reduce health care costs and cover
97% of Americans.
Obama also lauded the HELP panel measure for prohibiting insurance companies
from refusing coverage to people with pre-existing conditions and endorsing the
concept of insurance exchanges for people to shop for health plans.
"Among the choices that would be available in the exchange would be a public
health insurance option," Obama said. "The public option would make health care
affordable by increasing competition, providing more choices and keeping the
insurance companies honest."
-By Henry J. Pulizzi, Dow Jones Newswires; 202-862-9256; henry.pulizzi@
dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
07-02-091150ET
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