New Coalition Launches Pricey Health Reform Push
Americans for Stable Quality Care, which will spend $12 million on television ads, is a coalition of the American Medical Association, FamiliesUSA, the Federation of American Hospitals, PhRMA and the Service Employees International Union, Politico reports.
The ad focuses on the consumer protections promised in health care reform proposals, a strategy the White House has adopted in recent weeks.
"What does health insurance reform mean for you?" a narrator says in the ad. "It means you can't be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition or dropped if you get sick. It means putting health care decisions in the hands of you and your doctor. It means lower costs, a cap on out-of-pocket expenses, tough new rules to cut waste and red tape and a focus on preventing illness before it strikes. So what does health insurance reform really mean? Quality, affordable care you can count on."
Targeting moderate Democrats in the House and "swing" senators, Politico reports the ad will run in Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota and Virginia.
Americans for Stable Quality Care could reportedly be the largest spender in support of health reform; the pharmaceutical industry promised to spend as much as $150 million on advertising and outreach efforts in support of health reform.
The pro-reform group Health Care for America Now is also expanding its television advertising today, launching its "What if" ad in four new districts. The ad targets specific members of Congress, including Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.), Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.), Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-S.D.) and Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.)
The ad titled "What If" is running for a week starting today in Congressional districts represented by Reps. Jason Altmire (PA-04), Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD-At Large), and Rick Boucher (VA-09). It's airing in upstate New York asking constituents to call their Congressmen there, and it will be on the air in New Mexico and Delaware, urging Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Thomas Carper (D-DE) to support good, comprehensive reform.
