Health care reform – Why are nonprofits being left out?

From the National Council of Nonprofits

For months, nonprofits have been trying to get the Administration and Congress to recognize that nonprofits are employers that should be included in the health care reform legislation.

The Administration and the three congressional committees in the House have supported small for-profit businesses by giving them a tax credit to ease the strain of escalating health insurance costs. Nonprofits face those same escalating health insurance costs. However, despite repeated and concentrated efforts by nonprofits in D.C. and across the nation, so far the Administration has indicated no support for nonprofits and the three versions of the House bill provide no relief for nonprofits.

The National Council of Nonprofits does not support this inequitable treatment of nonprofits. As one nonprofit leader was quoted in a recent New York Times article ("Nonprofit Groups Upset at Exclusion from Health Bills"): “Why should employees of nonprofits be treated worse than employees of for-profit businesses?”

A growing number of members of Congress are starting to express interest in including nonprofits in the health reform legislation. Nonprofits are now included to differing degrees in bills by two Senate Committees. The challenges for nonprofits remain significant, however, as the various health care reform bills move from committees to the House and Senate floors and then to a conference committee.

For more on health care reform and nonprofits, read the attached memo for background, current status, and next steps on the journey - as well as other amendments and issues being raised.