June 21, 2009

U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, has introduced legislation that will authorize $45 million in federal grants for proven, locally designed and administered health care programs for the uninsured as an alternative to government-mandated health care.

"The Communities Building Access Act is a free market solution to providing health care to the 46 million Americans currently without health insurance," Hoekstra said. "It is a success story in Muskegon that can be duplicated throughout the country for communities to address their unique needs."

The Communities Building Access Act (H.R. 2925) would offer grants to communities that design and implement proven, community-based programs that have successfully provided health care coverage for uninsured individuals.

The legislation was inspired by two nationally acclaimed model programs - Access Health of Muskegon and CareNet of Toledo/Lucas County, Ohio - that have succeeded in covering uninsured individuals.

Localities could use the grants to administer programs in which the cost of health care is distributed equally among employers, employees and the community. Communities could also receive grants to administer Volunteer Specialty Provider Networks, which are a coordinated approach between local governments and health care providers to donate time, services and information for low-income members enrolled in the network.

The legislation would authorize the grant funding for a seven-year period.
The Communities Building Access Act would also establish a national clearinghouse for collecting, evaluating and disseminating data and information regarding the administration of the program.

"Americans do not need a one-size-fits-all universal health plan that rations care," said Jeff Fortenbacher, executive director of Access Health, Inc. "We can help to meet our goal of ensuring that every American who needs health care can access it through various flexible measures."