The proposal submitted by Sens. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and Richard M. Burr (R-N.C.), called the Patients’ Choice Act, would, among other stipulations, impose tax credits for those who purchase health insurance. But it would not do enough to ensure the quality of coverage—one of B’nai B’rith’s principles for healthcare reform. Additionally, by failing to require true community ratings for healthcare plans, and relying too heavily on tax deductions, the proposal doesn’t do enough to achieve true affordability of both coverage and the use of that coverage.

"Our principles are simple," BBI Director of Healthcare Policy Rachel Goldberg said. "Coverage needs to be comprehensive, affordable, and securable, so that people can keep coverage they like and get coverage they can afford. We think realistic healthcare reform must begin to address long-term services and supports, and be both politically feasible and financially fair."

"Allowing states to regulate insurance sounds good in theory, to discourage cherry picking," said Mark D. Olshan, BBI associate executive vice president and director of the organization’s Center for Senior Services.

"But without across the board rules there are too many opportunities for many people who can't afford insurance now—including those between 50 and 65—to continue to go under-insured in the future. These plans appear to allow insurance companies to continue the current practice of charging exorbitantly high rates for those people,” Olshan said.

Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) has simultaneously offered a proposal in the House of Representatives, which would assure that the government would not tamper with decisions made between physicians and patients.

"B’nai B’rith is pleased that both of these bills talk about preserving the doctor-patient relationship,” Goldberg said. “But no one seems willing to include long-term care— which is healthcare. If we are serious about healthcare reform, we need to do both."

However, the bill raises concerns that stem largely from misunderstanding both of the conditions in other health systems and what is likely to be proposed in the United States in the future. In an attempt to learn lessons from the British and Canadian healthcare systems, Kirk’s bill has attempted to avoid rationing and waiting lists.

While neither of these bills meets B’nai B’rith’s standards for healthcare reform, they make meaningful contributions to the evolving conversation. B’nai B’rith will continue to work with members of Congress and the Obama administration to help achieve the shared goal of a healthier United States.