Make Some Noise for Health Care

As a supporter the American Heart Association, I encourage you to work with your colleagues to pass meaningful, comprehensive health reform legislation this year. An estimated 80 million Americans have heart disease, stroke or another form of cardiovascular disease, and more than 15% of the non-elderly are uninsured. Millions more are finding it increasingly difficult to afford the coverage they have. These individuals are less likely than their well-insured counterparts to receive appropriate care and as a consequence, suffer far worse medical outcomes.

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I recognize that there is much hard work ahead to address health care reform. As an Association that represents patients with the most common and costly killer of Americans, we have an enormous stake in the outcome of this effort and pledge our support to you and your colleagues in Congress moving forward.

The kinds of improvements we believe are needed as part of health reform include:
- All Americans should have access to affordable health insurance coverage without regard to their health status or preexisting medical condition;
- Affordable coverage should limit beneficiary out-of-pocket costs and eliminate lifetime caps or arbitrary limits on medical services;

- Preventive benefits are an essential component of meaningful healthcare coverage, and financial barriers to accessing high value preventive services should be eliminated;
- Consumers need greater simplicity and transparency when comparing health plans; and
- Reforms are needed to improve the delivery of health care so that care is more evidence-based, patient-centered, coordinated, reliable, and efficient.

The American Heart Association stands ready to work with you and your colleagues in Congress on this important issue, and I thank you for your consideration of heart disease and stroke issues.