In his first address to Congress, President Obama cited health care reform as one of his top priorities, and he called on Congress to move quickly to pass legislation before the end of this year. Congress answered the call, and yesterday both the House and the Senate made public information on their respective plans for the first time.
In the House, the three committees with jurisdiction (Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Education and Labor) complied a three-page outline of their proposal. CQ Politics reported:
The plan would require individuals to obtain insurance and employers to help pay for it, and would create a government-run insurance plan that would compete with private insurers, according to the outline.Leaders of the three committees briefed the full House Democratic Caucus on their outline Tuesday. “We will continue to seek input and work closely with our colleagues, outside stakeholders, and the administration and are on track to introduce legislation shortly, the trio said. “We anticipate committee action on health reform in the coming weeks, with legislation on the House floor prior to the August district work period.”...The House Democratic plan would reorganize the private insurance market, creating a national Health Insurance Exchange where individuals or employers could obtain coverage, including from a government-run “public plan” if they wish. States would have the option of creating their own exchanges, instead of participating in the national exchange. Insurers would be prohibited from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions and could not charge higher premiums based on gender, health status or occupation. Premiums would be higher for older people, but the increase would be limited.The plan would cap out-of-pocket spending by patients to prevent bankruptcies due to medical costs. Some studies suggest that more than half of all personal bankruptcies are due to medical bills.
In the Senate the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee released a more detailed document on Tuesday. The 615 page document is not yet in its final form though, and additional components are expected to be released later in the week. The HELP Committee is chaired by Senator Ted Kennedy, but Senator Chris Dodd, the second-ranking Democrat, has had a large hand in drafting the bill while Kennedy continues to recover from brain cancer. The current version of the HELP bill can be read here.
The Huffington Post reported:
Kennedy's bill will get its first hearing on Thursday and is scheduled for a committee vote on Tuesday, June 16th. Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said Tuesday that a committee vote on a health care bill could come as early as the week after next. The battle over the future of health care in America now enters a span of several months as important as any in a generation.
Kennedy's bill will get its first hearing on Thursday and is scheduled for a committee vote on Tuesday, June 16th.
Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said Tuesday that a committee vote on a health care bill could come as early as the week after next. The battle over the future of health care in America now enters a span of several months as important as any in a generation.
As OFA Director Mitch Stewart said this morning, the future of American health care is now up for grabs.
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