Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Friday there is an "urgent need" for congressional action on health care reform drawing attention to the rising health insurance costs and the increasing number of Americans without health coverage.

"What we know is that every day in America, families are being crushed by the high cost of health care that threatens their financial stability, leaves them exposed to higher premiums and deductibles and puts them at risk for the possible loss of health insurance as employers struggle to provide adequate health coverage," Sebelius said.

The former Kansas Governor drew attention to state specific health problems in America saying that that the healthcare system can't wait in keeping with President Obama's desire to overhaul the nation's healthcare system.

"The president has made it pretty clear he actually believes in market strategies and feels very strongly having a public option compete with private insurers is the best way to have cost containment," she said.

The statement was accompanied by the release of individualized state health data on the uninsured, insurance premium costs, and overall health care quality. Sebelius said it's time to make reform a reality pointing out that health insurance premiums in Iowa have increased 88 % since 2000 and 10 % of Iowans are uninsured.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee that is marking up health care legislation, called Sebelius' prescription for a government- run health insurance option neither practical nor the remedy Americans are seeking.

Grassley cited a study by The Lewin Group, a health care and human services policy research and management consulting firm that predicted 120 million people would leave their private insurance plans if a public option was offered.

"Then 50 million people who are left are going to see premiums go up and eventually they are going to opt out and you end up with single-payer system." Grassley said. "The public at large doesn't want government-run health insurance and the word public option doesn't say that, but that's where you end up."

Commenting on Sebelius suggestion he and Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Montana, have "recommitted" to getting a health care reform bill to the president, Grassley said, "That would be correct if they left the 're' off. Since Jan. 20 I've been working with Sen. Baucus and there's no recommitment because we've been committed since Day 1."

Grassley was optimistic Congress will send the president a health care bill this fall, but conceded there is a risk it could come undone. Funding for health care coverage on KCUR has been provided by the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City.