Catholic Medical Association Calls for 'Reset' on Health Care Reform Legislation

Be it resolved that any health care legislation passed by Congress and signed into law shall exclude any funding of abortion.

PHILADELPHIA, PA (The Catholic Medical Association) - The Catholic Medical Association (CMA) adopted a resolution on health care reform at its 78th Annual Educational Conference, held in Springfield, Illinois, from October 22-24, 2009.

The resolution calls upon Congress and President Obama "to 'reset' the effort to enact health care reform legislation, to reexamine their commitment to the principles of the current legislation, and to begin the process anew."

CMA President Louis Breschi, M.D. explained the need for the resolution this way: "As physicians, we are highly concerned by the direction health care reform legislation has continued to take. The whole thrust of the legislation voted out of congressional committees is flawed. It tries to fix the real problems we have in health care with massive new government spending and mandates.

According to CMA Executive Director John Brehany, Ph.D., flawed legislative provisions are not the only problem. Brehany stated, "The entire legislative process is being conducted behind closed doors and with undue haste that has nothing to do good law or sound solutions. Every week seems to bring news of more legislative tricks and new budget gimmicks. This is no way to reform health care. Patients and physicians both will suffer a great deal if we don't get authentic reform."

The resolution also urges legislators and President Obama to respect the principles of subsidiarity, solidarity, and the patient-physician relationship, as well as to exclude funding of abortion and to provide meaningful protection for the conscience rights of health care providers in any legislation.

RESOLUTION ON HEALTH CARE REFORM
78th Annual General Assembly
October 23, 2009

Whereas, President Obama and Congress have been engaged in efforts to enact health care reform legislation in 2009 with the result that bills have been voted out of committees in both the House of Representatives and the Senate; and

Whereas, in an effort to change health care financing and delivery, some bills propose to vest, in a small set of unelected officials in the federal government, unprecedented powers to dictate the content of and charges for health insurance plans, the authorization of treatments, and provider reimbursement; and

Whereas, in the current legislative process, committees in both the House of Representatives and the Senate have refused to establish minimal, much less adequate, respect for the conscience rights of health care providers and have refused to exclude funding of abortion; and

Whereas, despite the significant shortcomings of current legislative bills and processes, Congress and President Obama have repeatedly expressed their determination to enact legislation before the end of calendar year 2009 - a timeframe too short to allow adequate consideration and transparency;

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Therefore, be it resolved that:

CMA members urge Congress and their elected representatives to "reset" the effort to enact health care reform legislation, to reexamine their commitment to the principles of the current legislation, and to begin the process anew; and

Be it resolved that Congress enact legislation that respects the Principle of Subsidiarity by recognizing the rights of individuals, families, groups and communities to make decisions about their health care insurance and treatment options; and

Be it resolved that Congress enact legislation respecting the physician-patient relationship rather than legislation inserting more bureaucrats and regulations into this relationship; and

Be it resolved that before or concurrent with passing any health care reform legislation, Congress provide comprehensive, enforceable protection for the conscience rights of health care providers, institutions, and programs; and

Be it resolved that any health care legislation passed by Congress and signed into law shall exclude any funding of abortion; and

Be it resolved that Congress should enact legislation that respects the Principle of Solidarity in reforming Medicaid and Medicare and in providing a way for those who fall outside current social assistance programs to obtain basic health care services consistent with human dignity and justice; and

Be it resolved that Congress enact legislation permitting fair and transparent competition for health care insurance plans so that individuals and families can purchase affordable health insurance that comports with their values and needs.

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