IFA Urges Congress to Start Over on Bipartisan Health Care Reform

For immediate release
Contact:Alisa Harrison, 202-628-8000
aharrison@franchise.org
www.twitter.com/franchising411

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21, 2010—The International Franchise Association today called on Congress to begin work on new legislation that will make health insurance more affordable for franchised small businesses.

“Congress and the Administration have an opportunity to start over and get health care reform right,” stated IFA vice president of Government Relations David French. “As we have been urging all year, we are again calling on Congress to focus on moving forward on sensible policies so that small business owners will have certainty from government and go back to focusing on creating jobs.”

French said that the one-sided, go-it-alone approach to reform has been rejected not only by the people of Massachusetts, but by a growing chorus of Americans across the country. “Franchised small business owners are looking to Washington for results and they expect action on the policies where there is broad agreement,” he said.

The IFA supports reforms to the insurance system that:
• Will guarantee health coverage to all American regardless of pre-existing conditions and prevent insurance companies from revoking policies from individuals once they get sick,
• Provide tax credits and subsidies to assist small businesses afford the full cost of health insurance plans,
• Create national or regional exchanges where small business can pool together to purchase insurance plans and benefit from new choices and competition,
• Promote and strengthen consumer-driven options like health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts that allow individuals to plan for future medical costs,
• Encourage wellness and prevention programs, and
• Will enact medical liability reform to end the out of control costs associated with unnecessary defensive medicine.

“Franchise businesses provide for 20 million jobs and contribute $2.3 trillion to the U.S. economy,” French said. “Our proposals will help foster sensible reform that helps provide health care to more Americans while at the same time helps small businesses grow and thrive. We have an opportunity to get it right, and we urge Congress and the Administration to start over and, this time, fully consider the impact on small businesses and how they can help with the solution. ”

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About the International Franchise Association
The International Franchise Association, the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising, is the preeminent voice and acknowledged leader for the industry worldwide. Approaching a half-century of service with a growing membership of more than 1,100 franchise systems, 10,000-plus franchisees and more than 500 firms that supply goods and services to the industry, IFA protects, enhances and promotes franchising by advancing the values of integrity, respect, trust, commitment to excellence, honesty and diversity. For more information, visit the IFA Web site at

www.franchise.org

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