New Jersey Chamber Co-Founder of National Health Care Reform Coalition

Business groups from 20 states band together to support meaningful reform

The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce has joined 19 other statewide chambers and employer organizations in an unprecedented alliance that will unify their efforts in the federal health care reform debate. The alliance was launched today.

The group, Employers for Quality Health Care, is an independent coalition that is bringing a unique perspective to the table alongside national business groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers.

The members of the coalition – representing thousands of employers who voluntarily provide coverage for millions of workers and their families – outlined their priorities and suggestions for reform in a letter to President Obama and members of Congress. A copy of the letter can be found here.

“Health-related spending accounts for 17 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product, and it’s rising rapidly,” said Joan Verplanck, president of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. “If we don’t get costs under control, the stress on our economy may be insurmountable. Reform is in everyone’s interest, but it must be done smart and it must be done right.”