AAHP: To Launch Blitz Against Managed Care Legislation
The American Association of Health Plans announced today that it will launch a multi-tired campaign aimed at defeating "extremist federal legislative proposals that would enrich trial lawyers, increase costs and premiums for working families and small businesses, and add to the ranks of uninsured Americans." The campaign, which will mirror the similar $5 million effort made by the managed care association last year and credited with helping to defeat patients' bill of rights proposals, will feature an aggressive television advertising campaign that would air in Washington and in politically-important target markets around the country. It will also include a pro-managed care print advertising blitz and a companion grassroots campaign to mobilize key business and employer groups. AAHP President Karen Ignagni said, "We look forward to working with the new 106th Congress to address the real issues that matter most to working families, senior citizens, and small business -- including expanding access to affordable, quality health care for all Americans and assuring adequate payments to support Medicare+Choice." The timing of the launch of the campaign will depend on when the issue of an impeachment trial for President Clinton is resolved. However, the AAHP noted that it will move ahead immediately with "mini- campaigns" in Iowa and New Hampshire (AAHP release, 1/6).
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