APHA Urges House to Approve Health Reform

New APHA Report Says, 'After 98 Years, It's Time to Act'

WASHINGTON, March 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Public Health Association today urged members of the U.S. House of Representatives to support the health reform legislation and related reconciliation improvements that will come to the House floor for a vote in the coming days.

"Congress has the opportunity to do what has eluded our grasp for nearly a century," said Georges C. Benjamin , MD, FACP, FACEP (E), executive director of APHA. "Passing this measure will strengthen our public health system, invest in prevention, improve the health of the American people and move us closer to providing comprehensive and affordable health coverage for all Americans. If not now, when?"

A new issue brief APHA released today underscores the challenges that have plagued attempts to pass health reform since Teddy Roosevelt 's presidency. "Ninety-Eight Years of Almost: The Push for National Health Insurance" reveals the powerful impact of special interests opposed to national health insurance and the political challenges and misfortunes that have stymied progress.

"After 98 years of almost passing health reform legislation, the time has come to act," said Benjamin.

The issue brief can be found at http://www.apha.org/NR/rdonlyres/C79FC68C-10EF-42D2-8BD9-C79E62047F14/0/healthinsurance3192010.pdf.

For more about APHA, visit www.apha.org.

Contact: David Fouse , 202-777-2501, david.fouse@apha.org

SOURCE American Public Health Association

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