Real Americans’ voices are rarely heard in our nation’s health care debate, but thanks to the impressive work and new report of the Citizens’ Health Care Working Group, it’s clear that Americans want fundamental change in our failed health care system. The Citizen's Health Care Working Group gathered and analyzed input from thousands of Americans, through community meetings nationwide as well as individual commentaries over the last several months. This report adds a much-needed perspective to what is too often an inside-the-beltway discussion among interest groups, and demands action from a Congress that has done far too little.

Through such broad-based input, it’s clear that people in the U.S. want:

· Public policy that will ensure that all Americans have affordable health care by 2012, with financing based on fairness, efficiency and shared responsibility among individuals, government and employers;

· All Americans to have access to a “core” benefit package that covers services across the continuum of care and are both evidence based and of proven effectiveness;

· All Americans to have protection against very high out-of-pocket medical costs – as a bridge to the broader goal of universal health care.

What is striking in this report is that Americans have said they want much more than incremental changes that fall short of reaching our goal of universal health care. In outlining what Americans want – and do not now get – from our health care system, the report provides a stark illustration of just how little this Congress is doing to address our nation’s health care crisis. In fact, the recommendation in support of a core set of comprehensive benefits is in marked contrast to the promotion of high-deductible health plans, which focus exclusively on cost of care rather than the appropriateness and necessity of care.

This report should be a wake up call to Congress that our health care system fails far too many Americans – even those working families who now have coverage but are still struggling under enormous costs. We stand ready to help make possible the policy of affordable, quality health care for all Americans by 2012.

Contact: Steve Smith 202-637-5018