Catholic group supports health care reform initiatives - Catholic Health Association; Clinton reforms

National Catholic Reporter, Oct 1, 1993

The Catholic Health Association said it is "in basic agreement" with many of the initiatives in President Clinton's health care reform package.

The CHA, with more than 1,200 facilities and organizations nationwide, represents the largest group of not-for-profit health care institutions under a single form of sponsorship. The CHA said its vision for reform is similar to Clinton's in that they both seek universal and continuous coverage, a substantial uniform benefit package, overall expenditure control, and many protections for the poor.

According to the CHA, the percentage of poor covered by Medicaid in the United States has been in steady decline from 63 percent in 1975 to 40 percent in 1990. Despite praise for Clinton's "bold" leadership on this issue, CHA's President John Curley said "where appropriate and necessary" CHA will pursue modifications in keeping with the "ethical values" of the Catholic health care ministry.