The push for health care reform is moving fast and furiously, so I thought it’d be helpful to have semi-daily “Health on the Hill” updates that should help you keep track of the reform debate and get to the meat of the issue. Enjoy!
Today’s Updates – 11/9/09:
Saturday night around 11:30 pm, earlier in the weekend than expected, the House of Representatives passed their very first piece of legislation to reform the health insurance system in America by a 220-215 vote. Just one Republican, Rep. Joseph Cao of New Orleans, LA, voted for the legislation — which was a bit unexpected from the GOP. (And note that this means 39 Democrats did not vote for the legislation, which does not make the looming fight in the Senate look very easy!) The bill was passed pretty much in the same state that it entered the debate, with just one major amendment rearing its ugly head and unfortunately being accepted into the legislation. That amendment being the Stupak amendment, proposed by Representative Bart Stupak (D-MI), which effectively bans insurance plans offered in the new Health Insurance Exchange from covering abortion services. Also under the amendment, women who purchase comprehensive private insurance packages — that include abortion services — would have to pay for the entire cost of the package (even if they qualify for subsidies from the government to purchase that insurance). This is a big defeat for progressives and it personally breaks my heart to see that we have such a long way to go in this country when it comes to reproductive rights.
The new House health care bill, H.R. 3962, will insure 96% of the population, end denial of coverage based on pre-existing conditions, end higher rates based on gender, insure young adults under parent coverage until age 27, and open up a national Health Insurance Exchange where individuals can choose from insurance plans offered by private insurers and a plan offered by the government — the public option.
The backbone of our health insurance system will still mainly consist of employer-provided plans, as it has for years, but now those not receiving insurance from their employers will have more options. Also, large employers will be required to continue providing coverage to their employees, and small businesses will receive subsidies to help provide insurance to their employees. Those not receiving coverage from their employer will be able to purchase insurance in the Exchange, and most individuals, other than extremely low-income earners, will now be required to have insurance and some will receive federal subsidies in order to help purchase that insurance.
How much will this reform cost and how will we pay for it? The House bill comes in around $894 billion over ten years and will be paid for by taxing very high-income earners and finding savings in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
It was a very exciting Saturday night here in D.C. and in millions of homes across the country, as many celebrated the completion of the first step in getting health care legislation that much closer to the President’s desk. Even in the Capitol, as the votes reached the 218 needed to pass the legislation, the chamber broke into applause. Now it’s time to strive for hearing that same applause from the Senate floor as they gear up to pass their own version of health care reform, then the next step will be to combine the two bills and have a final vote to bring health care reform legislation into law.
We’re so close, stay tuned and stay active!
House Passes Health Reform, But Without Reproductive Rights
The U.S. House of Representatives answered “the call of history” put to it by President Obama Saturday and voted 220-215 in favor of the most sweeping expansion of health-care coverage since the enactment of Medicare and Medicaid Act of 1965.
Why The Stupak Amendment Is A Monumental Setback For Abortion Access
If you thought that just because abortion is a constitutional right and part of basic reproductive health care it would be available in the reformed health insurance market known as the Exchange, think again. The Stupak Amendment, passed Saturday night by the House of Representatives after a compromise deal fell apart, potentially goes farther than any other federal law to restrict women’s access to abortion.
Obama Presses Senate to Pass Its Health Bill
The White House, growing concerned that the Congressional timetable for passing a health care overhaul could slip into next year, is stepping up pressure on the Senate for quick action, with President Obama appearing Sunday in the Rose Garden to call on senators to “take up the baton and bring this effort to the finish line.”