(Washington, DC) - Congressman Baron Hill has introduced H.R. 6319, the Commission on Affordable Health Care Act.  The bill establishes the Commission on Affordable Health Care and tasks the group with conducting a comprehensive study of potential models for a health care system to provide affordable and quality health care to all citizens of the United States.

“I spoke frequently during the last campaign about the need to bring together everyone involved in the health care industry to, once and for all, figure out the best ways to ensure all Americans have access to effective and affordable health care,” Hill said.  “The price of health insurance is often expensive, and with the cost of everything from gas to food continuing to rise, we need to address this issue right now.”

The Commission on Affordable Health Care will consist of no more than 19 members, including:
„X The Co-Chairmen will be the heads of topical House and Senate Committees:
• Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
• Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee
• Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee
• Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
„X Representatives from the following interested entities:
• Patient advocates
• Hospitals
• Physicians
• Medical devices
• Pharmaceutical companies
• Nurses
• National Governors Association
• Department of Health and Human Services
• The White House
• Labor Unions
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• Any other appropriate interested entity identified by the co-chairmen of the Commission

The Co-Chairmen shall meet within 60 days of enactment to identify other appropriate entities to be represented on the Commission, and establish rules and procedures for the Commission.  The Commission shall submit a report to Congress within two years outlining their findings and recommendations, as well as a legislative proposal that provides for a health care system based on the recommendations of the Commission.  The Commission shall terminate 30 days after the report is submitted to Congress.

H.R. 6319 also provides for expedited introduction and consideration of the report in the House and Senate:
• Committees of jurisdiction shall have 15 calendar days to report the resolution to their respective Chamber.
• The report must then be considered by the full House and Senate within five days of the Committees reporting the bill out of each Committee.

“I believe I have come up with a plan to take those most knowledgeable about our health care system and have them devise several ways for Congress to tackle our health care problems,” Hill said.  “Particularly during this time of economic turmoil, people are finding they have to make cuts to their budget, and often times, that means dropping their health insurance.  We need to ensure that all Americans, regardless of their socioeconomic status, have access to quality and affordable health insurance.”

H.R. 6319 is currently pending before the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee