Below is the text from a weekly letter sent out by the American Thoracic Society about what's going on in Congress of interest to the lung community. As you might imagine, now that the party in Washington is over, the claws have come out and the nitty-gritty is well underway. There are several items of particular interest to the ATS - and to us. For now I've got a lot to do today so I'm going to save my personal comments for later.
Consider this just an FYI post to keep you in the loop.
Double Bonus: Health Insurance Expansion and Tobacco Tax Increase
This week, President Obama signed into law legislation that will reauthorize and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), a joint state and federal program that provides health insurance to approximately seven million children whose families cannot afford private health insurance, but do not qualify for Medicaid. Thanks to this new legislation, the program will be able to serve an additional 4 million children.
In addition health insurance expansion, the bill also allows states to purchase dental coverage for children who have private health insurance, but no dental coverage. The Senate bill will also create a Medicare payment advisory commission, similar to the existing Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) that makes recommendations to Congress on Medicare payment policy. The physician community hopes the proposed Medicaid commission will help address Medicaid’s historically low reimbursement rates.
To pay for these initiatives, the legislation will increase the federal tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products by $0.61 per pack. Studies have shown that children are very price-sensitive and that increases in the tobacco tax will reduce the number of children who start smoking.
This public health victory did not come without a fight. The Senate successfully thwarted the efforts of Senator Webb (D-VA) to lower the tobacco tax to $0.37. The ATS, through its Washington Office and Advocacy Network, actively lobbied against the Webb amendment.
“We commend Congress and the President for taking these very important steps to protect public health and the well-being of children everywhere,” said ATS President Jo Rae Wright, Ph.D. “The ATS is pleased to have played a role in this successful campaign to protect kids from tobacco and expand insurance coverage.”
BUDGET
Stimulus Bill - $10 billion for NIH, But CDC Funding In Doubt
The Senate is moving closer to a final vote on economic stimulus legislation. Earlier this week, the chamber unanimously passed an amendment sponsored by Senators Specter (R-PA) and Harkin (D-IA) to provide $6.5 billion in funding for the NIH, in addition to the $3.5 billion already in the bill. Adoption of the Specter-Harkin amendment brings the total for NIH to $10 billion for FY09. The ATS Washington Office thanks all members who responded to our alert in support of the Specter-Harkin amendment.
However, funding increases for the CDC are in doubt. The Senate bill currently includes $5.8 billion in funding for public health “prevention and wellness” programs at the CDC, including chronic disease prevention, autoimmune diseases, immunizations, health services research, newborn screening and the potential to fund other public health priorities such as tuberculosis and tobacco cessation. But some representatives, including Senators Nelson (D-FL) and Collins (R-ME), have stated their intention to offer an amendment to reduce overall funding in the bill, and have targeted CDC funding as an area to cut by more than 84 percent. Negotiations between these senators and the leadership will continue through the weekend and a final Senate vote on the stimulus package is expected to come by Monday.
ATS members are urged to contact Congress in support of CDC funding. Visit the ATS Web site for more information atwww.thoracic.org/sections/about-ats/advocacy/take-action-now.html.
The House passed its version of the stimulus bill last week on a party line vote of 244–188. Following passage of the Senate bill this coming week, House and Senate leaders will work out the differences between the two bills with the goal of passing the final stimulus package and sending it to the President by the end of the week. An ATS priority for the final package is retention of House-passed language that provides funding for the CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD’s and Tuberculosis Prevention (NCHHSTP) to strengthen domestic TB control.
Consider this just an FYI post to keep you in the loop.
Double Bonus: Health Insurance Expansion and Tobacco Tax Increase
This week, President Obama signed into law legislation that will reauthorize and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), a joint state and federal program that provides health insurance to approximately seven million children whose families cannot afford private health insurance, but do not qualify for Medicaid. Thanks to this new legislation, the program will be able to serve an additional 4 million children.
In addition health insurance expansion, the bill also allows states to purchase dental coverage for children who have private health insurance, but no dental coverage. The Senate bill will also create a Medicare payment advisory commission, similar to the existing Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) that makes recommendations to Congress on Medicare payment policy. The physician community hopes the proposed Medicaid commission will help address Medicaid’s historically low reimbursement rates.
To pay for these initiatives, the legislation will increase the federal tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products by $0.61 per pack. Studies have shown that children are very price-sensitive and that increases in the tobacco tax will reduce the number of children who start smoking.
This public health victory did not come without a fight. The Senate successfully thwarted the efforts of Senator Webb (D-VA) to lower the tobacco tax to $0.37. The ATS, through its Washington Office and Advocacy Network, actively lobbied against the Webb amendment.
“We commend Congress and the President for taking these very important steps to protect public health and the well-being of children everywhere,” said ATS President Jo Rae Wright, Ph.D. “The ATS is pleased to have played a role in this successful campaign to protect kids from tobacco and expand insurance coverage.”
BUDGET
Stimulus Bill - $10 billion for NIH, But CDC Funding In Doubt
The Senate is moving closer to a final vote on economic stimulus legislation. Earlier this week, the chamber unanimously passed an amendment sponsored by Senators Specter (R-PA) and Harkin (D-IA) to provide $6.5 billion in funding for the NIH, in addition to the $3.5 billion already in the bill. Adoption of the Specter-Harkin amendment brings the total for NIH to $10 billion for FY09. The ATS Washington Office thanks all members who responded to our alert in support of the Specter-Harkin amendment.
However, funding increases for the CDC are in doubt. The Senate bill currently includes $5.8 billion in funding for public health “prevention and wellness” programs at the CDC, including chronic disease prevention, autoimmune diseases, immunizations, health services research, newborn screening and the potential to fund other public health priorities such as tuberculosis and tobacco cessation. But some representatives, including Senators Nelson (D-FL) and Collins (R-ME), have stated their intention to offer an amendment to reduce overall funding in the bill, and have targeted CDC funding as an area to cut by more than 84 percent. Negotiations between these senators and the leadership will continue through the weekend and a final Senate vote on the stimulus package is expected to come by Monday.
ATS members are urged to contact Congress in support of CDC funding. Visit the ATS Web site for more information atwww.thoracic.org/sections/about-ats/advocacy/take-action-now.html.
The House passed its version of the stimulus bill last week on a party line vote of 244–188. Following passage of the Senate bill this coming week, House and Senate leaders will work out the differences between the two bills with the goal of passing the final stimulus package and sending it to the President by the end of the week. An ATS priority for the final package is retention of House-passed language that provides funding for the CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD’s and Tuberculosis Prevention (NCHHSTP) to strengthen domestic TB control.
Comments