The CBO and 43 Leading Health Economists Agree: Health Reform Will Reduce The Deficit

Center for American Progress:

 Today the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office confirmed that health care reform will deliver deficit reduction – by $130 billion in the first ten years and $1.2 trillion in the second ten years. Read CAPAF’s statement here.

Echoing the CBO’s findings, CAPAF recently released several products outlining the cost-controlling and deficit-reducing impacts of health care reform:

• A letter from 43 of the nation’s leading health economists, including three Nobel Prize winners, stating that the measures being considered by Congress “are a serious, multi-faceted initiative to improve the quality and efficiency of American medical care, rein in the fastest growing portion of government and private budgets and provide a valuable platform for future cost-control efforts.” http://www.americanprogressaction.org/pressroom/2010/03/av/hcletter.pdf">Read the letter.

• A new memo, “The Math Is Clear,” by Associate Director for Tax and Budget Policy http://www.americanprogress.org/aboutus/staff/LindenMichael.html blocked::http://www.americanprogress.org/aboutus/staff/LindenMichael.html">Michael Linden, posing the question: “Anyone concerned about our long-term budget situation but opposed to the current health reform effort must answer this simple question: In the absence of health care reform, what other policies do you support that will reduce the deficit by at least $1 trillion over the next two decades?” http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/03/math_is_clear.html">Read the memo.

• A new memo, “The Strengths of the Senate Health Reform Bill,” by Director of Health Policy http://www.americanprogress.org/experts/DavenportKaren.html blocked::http://www.americanprogress.org/experts/DavenportKaren.html">Karen Davenport, explaining that “Members of Congress who are weighing how to balance concerns about the long-term growth of the federal budget deficit, the exponential growth of health care costs, and the clear need for health system reform should consider the Senate health reform bill’s significant strengths.” http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/03/health_care_strengths.html">Read the memo.

• A column, “Cost Containment is Key,” by Senior Fellow Judy Feder, which explains why health insurance that offers meaningful protection and is affordable hinges on getting ever-rising health costs under control. http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/03/cost_containment_key.html">Read the column.

Posted via email from Jim Nichols for GA State House