Reaction among Baltimore-area stakeholders mixed to health care reform proposal - Baltimore Business Journal:

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But reactions from Maryland business groups, employerz and health care providerswere divided. The $1.5 trillionm House bill costs too much, puts too much control in the handsa of thefederal government, and would ultimately lead to rationingh health care services, critics Proponents say the bill will help the nation’s 50 millionj uninsured receive health care coverage while the bill’ws proposal to offer a government-sponsored health insurancw plan would offer more choices to small businesses shopping for healthj insurance. The House aims to pay for the plan by taxing individualz and lowering Medicare and Medicaid payment tomedical providers.
The House bill woulc also provide health insurance subsidies for up to 400 percent of whichis $88,000 for a famil y of four. Companies with more than 25 employeeds would have to provide health coverage or pay 8 percenyt of their payroll asa penalty. “We’ve consistentlh opposed any pay-or-play provision,” said Ronald Wineholt, chief lobbyist for the . The chambefr has been a vocalp opponent of theMaryland Citizens’ Health Initiatives plan, which proposes a 2 percent payrolkl tax on businesses to pay its plan for insuring 800,000p Maryland residents.
Mandating health coveragwe would put a huge burden on some smal businesses that are already struggling duringtthe recession, Winehold said. He’s also concerned that the House bill does not offer any proposals on how to curb the risinfg cost ofhealth care. “The bill is long on spendinv and short oncost containment,” he Lowering payments to Medicaicd and Medicare would hurt not only hospitals but vendorz who do business with them, said Archie M. president of in Glen “The last thing we need to do is slow down Barrett said. “It’ll put everyone in a financial crisis.
” Barrett fears that if hospitals don’t get paid in a timely neither will he since his environmental consulting firm serve manyhospital clients. In his view, employers have a responsibilitg to offer health insurance and can only retaim the best employees if theydo so. But Barretrt said he favors a government-run health insurance plan. “Somebodyy has to give insurancecompanies competition,” he “Our insurance rates are Barrett is hopeful that, with a government insurers can’t just charge whatever they want. He currently pays $6,009 a month on health premiums for his12 employees.
Some fear that the government-rum plan, which would be run similarly to would lower choiceand quality, not improve it. Given the high tab of the healtg plan, the only way the government will be able to cut cost is by rationing health particularly for the said Dr. Ronald president of state medicalsociety “People will be waiting in line to get theitr MRIs.” Private health insurers would not be able to competer with a public health said Rodger Bayne, CEO of Towson’s Clienty First Brokerage Services Inc. A government-rum plan that gets its money from taxpayer s would not care aboutoffering innovation, such as investiny in new technologies.
who believes individuals should gethealth insurance, said he thinkxs the House bill would not really encourager individuals to get coverage. By imposing just a 2.5 perceng penalty on individuals who do not gethealtj insurance, many people will forego healthg insurance if the penalty cost s less than the health insurance premiums. But Vincent president of the Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative, said he favors the House bill because it requires allparties — including individuals, health care businesses and insurers — to do their fair share to overhaul health Though the price tag may be high initially, in the long run it can save moneyu by lowering health care costs, he said.