Leading Patient Advocacy Organizations United on Health Care Reform Principles

WASHINGTON, June 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Forty-eight leading national
patient organizations have called on President Obama and members of Congress
to enact health care reform that guarantees effective and affordable health
and long-term care coverage for all Americans.

In a statement issued today by the National Health Council (NHC), the chief
executives of the patient groups specifically urged that reform legislation:
-- cover everyone
-- curb costs responsibly
-- abolish exclusions for pre-existing conditions
-- eliminate lifetime caps, and
-- ensure long-term and end-of-life care.

"The health care system can be both effective and affordable for everyone when
it provides more coordinated care, improves patient outcomes that lower costs
to society, and keeps pace with biomedical innovation," said NHC President
Myrl Weinberg. "Access, affordability, innovation, and high quality care
should be the benchmarks for health care in America."

Weinberg stressed that Congress "must take into consideration one of the
leading health care cost drivers - people with chronic diseases and
disabilities. They are different from average consumers who are generally in
good health and sporadic users of the health care system. People diagnosed
with chronic conditions interact with the health care system their entire
lives." The NHC has provided specific recommendations to the Senate Finance
Committee and its staff as the Committee develops its version of a health
reform package.

These activities are part of the NHC's Campaign to Put Patients First.
"Putting Patients First(R) means creating a modern health care system that
saves lives, enhances our quality of life, and saves us all money," Weinberg
explained. The NHC is also collecting signatures from patients in support of
the statement's principles for health care reform.

About the National Health Council:
The National Health Council is the only organization of its kind that brings
together all segments of the health care community to provide a united voice
for people with chronic diseases and disabilities and their family caregivers.
Its membership includes health-related organizations and corporations and
leading patient advocacy groups.

Key Facts:
-- In 2005, 133 million people had a chronic condition --
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/overview.htm

-- Chronic diseases account for more than 75% of the nation's total
medical care costs - http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/overview.htm

Links:
-- National Health Council - www.nationalhealthcouncil.org
-- Statement to the President and Congress --

http://www.nationalhealthcouncil.org/NHC_Files/Pdf_Files/ToPresidentandC
ongress_06-01-09.pdf

-- Recommendations to Senate Finance Committee -
http://www.nationalhealthcouncil.org/pages/public-policy.php?id=2

SOURCE National Health Council

Nancy Hughes, +1-202-973-0550, nhughes@nhcouncil.org, or Emily Noonan,
+1-202-973-0552, enoonan@nhcouncil.org, both of the National Health Council