The week in health reform
Health Week in general Federal-Law Reform
The White House
On 3 March, President Obama continued his push for Members of Congress to complete legislation on health insurance reform in the coming weeks. He made a statement to a group of medical professionals in the East Room of The White House in which he said he had asked Senate and House leaders to complete the work on reform health and schedule final votes in the coming weeks. The President went on to say that the issues have been discussed thoroughly and that now is the time to make a decision. Although not specifically mention the budget reconciliation process, the President said the American people deserve an "up or down" vote on health care reform the same way that welfare reform and tax cuts approved by Congress in the past under reconciliation rules.
The President said that the health insurance reform was to change three things:
* End of the "worst practices" of health insurance companies
* Giving individuals and small businesses the same kind of decisions members of Congress have
* Reduce health care costs for families, businesses and government
The President made numerous references to the health insurance industry and said there is a fundamental disagreement between Republicans and Democrats over whether there should be more or less regulation of health insurance. The President concluded by stressing that he will do everything we can to make the case health reform in the coming weeks, and urged the American people to make their voices heard.
In addition, the President said he prepared to study the policy priorities identified by the Republicans at the top of both parties, such as:
* Conduct research secret health care providers who receive reimbursement from federal programs.
* To appropriate funds for demonstration programs statewide to test approaches alternative, including health courts, the settlement of medical malpractice suits.
* Linking expansion of Medicaid eligibility to a higher reimbursement Medicaid for physicians.
* Clarification that medical savings accounts (HSA) can be offered through the market for health insurance offered.
On March 4, Health Care Service Corporation President and CEO Pat Hemingway Hall attended a meeting at the White House, along with the CEOs of other leading companies in health insurance and staff of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The group met with Health and Human Services and President Kathleen Sebelius Obama to discuss issues of premiums in the individual market.
House and Senate
Congressional leaders are now focusing intensely on the development of legislative language that could be supported by a majority of members in both chambers. The president's comments last week to send a strong signal that this legislation, once completed, would move through Congress under the budget reconciliation procedures.
Under the rules of reconciliation, the House would have to approve the Senate version of health reform bill, HR 3590, which was approved years ago Christmas Eve. After that, the House would be forced to pass a separate "corrections" bill incorporating specific changes in this bill will likely be negotiated between officials White House and House and Senate leaders. After the House passes the "corrections" bill, under procedures omnibus budget reconciliation, the Senate would have to at least 50 senators to vote for the "corrections" bill. Under the rules of reconciliation only a simple majority vote of 51 votes are needed for passage (Vice President Joe Biden would be the 51st vote if only 50 senators voting in favor of bill) and filibusters are prohibited.
To meet the goal of sending a bill to reform the president's desk final before Easter break (which is scheduled to begin March 29), congressional leaders would have to submit legislative language to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) for the analysis of costs in the very near future. On 4 March, Press Secretary of the White House, Robert Gibbs, Obama said the president hoped that the House of Representatives approve the draft health reform by March 18 so the rest of the process can move quickly.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is now the task of trying to corral votes in the House of Representatives, trying to assure those who are concerned that the Senate will be willing to support the same measures. Some members of the House are concerned to remain "empty handed" if the Senate decides he will not support some of the same legislative language.
To ensure Democrats have enough votes, Obama President invited two groups of the Democratic Caucus to the White House on March 4 to continue support for the passage of reform health. Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus were:
Presidents Caucus Raul Grijalva (AZ) and Lynn Woolsey (California), U.S. Pacific Congress Asian Caucus Chair Mike Honda (CA), the Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Barbara Lee (CA), Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nydia Velazquez (New York) Representatives Dennis Kucinich (Ohio), Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA) and Jan Schakowsky (Illinois) and Delegates Madeleine Bordallo (Guam) and Donna Christensen (Islas Virgin).
Later, Obama met with key members of the New Democrat Coalition. New Democrats, as the blue dogs, are a group of fiscally conservative Democrats. Those attending this meeting were: Representatives Jason Altmire (PA), Melissa Bean (IL), Lois Capps (CA), Joe Crowley (NY), Ron Kind (WI), Allyson Schwartz (PA) and Adam Smith (WA).
Description: Extension of medical payments "Fix" and provisions of COBRA
On 2 March, the Senate passed HR 4691, the "Temporary Extension Act 2010" and President Obama signed the bill. This legislation includes an extension one-month Medicare physician payment "fix" premium assistance to unemployed workers with COBRA and state continuation coverage, unemployment insurance and other legislative provisions that expired on 28 February. Before the vote on the approval of the bill, the Senate first voted on an amendment by Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) which offset the cost of $ 10 billion of the extenders package. " This amendment was defeated and therefore no legislation was necessary follow. The bill was signed later by the President.
Summary: The Competition "Health Insurance Industry Fair Act" – HR 4626
In a letter dated March 3, 1922 Senate Democrats wrote to Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), urging him to bring HR 4626, the "Health Insurance Industry FCA, on the Senate floor at the first opportunity. The letter stated that "[this] legislation is an important step to introduce competition for health insurance market, and ensure that anti-competitive abuses such as price fixing and monopolization are monitored in the field of health insurance. "America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) CEO Karen Ignagni maintains the position on the legislation, saying that "the rhetoric surrounding the repeal [antitrust] exemptions does not correspond with the reality of the situation. Health insurance is one of the most regulated industries in the United States, both federal and state levels. The law is very limited in scope and has nothing to do with competition in health insurance. In fact, a wide range of insurance activities, including mergers and many types of practices trade, are and always have been subject to federal antitrust laws and enforcement by the Department of Justice. "
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