The following update is from the American Thoracic Society newsletter. If I get a chance, I might comment later. For now, I know its hard to figure out what exactly is going on with this issue. I for one, am very confused about the current state of the bill, what's in and what's out.
Thus, I'm not posting this as a pro or a con - it's just a nice summary of what's going on.
Congressional Leaders Close to Deal on Health Reform Bill
Following Senate passage of healthcare reform legislation on December 24, House and Senate leaders are negotiating between each chamber and with the President to produce final legislation. Instead of a formal House-Senate conference on the bill, the leadership and chairs of the relevant House and Senate committees are meeting and working informally to produce a final bill, a process known as "ping-pong."
Late yesterday, an agreement with Labor leaders was forged on one of the "pay for" mechanisms in the bill, the tax on high-cost insurance plans. Under the deal, the threshold for a new 40 percent tax on high-cost insurance plans was increased from $8,500 to $8,900 for individual plans and from $23,000 to $24,000 for family plans. An important new point in the deal is that these levels will be adjusted for inflation annually.
Another key issue that remains to be resolved is whether the health insurance exchange will be a national entity or state-based. Other issues still being negotiated include Medicare prescription coverage and abortion language. Many House Democrats are also still working to preserve some form of a public health insurance option in the bill.The option, as currently envisioned, does not have enough support to pass the Senate.
The ATS Washington Office is working to ensure that a number of key measures are included in the final legislation, including a House-passed measure to extend coverage of tobacco cessation services to all Medicaid beneficiaries, measures to increase patient access to clinical research participation, measures to address physician workforce shortages, including education incentives for pediatric specialties and funding for prevention programs.
There are a series of other issues that the ATS has actively advocated for throughout the debate, but to our disappointment are no longer in play at this final stage of negotiations. These issues include the public insurance option, Medicare coverage of end-of-life counseling and medical liability reform. Although these issues are unlikely to appear in the final health reform bill, the ATS will continue to advocate for these measures.
Thus, I'm not posting this as a pro or a con - it's just a nice summary of what's going on.
Congressional Leaders Close to Deal on Health Reform Bill
Following Senate passage of healthcare reform legislation on December 24, House and Senate leaders are negotiating between each chamber and with the President to produce final legislation. Instead of a formal House-Senate conference on the bill, the leadership and chairs of the relevant House and Senate committees are meeting and working informally to produce a final bill, a process known as "ping-pong."
Late yesterday, an agreement with Labor leaders was forged on one of the "pay for" mechanisms in the bill, the tax on high-cost insurance plans. Under the deal, the threshold for a new 40 percent tax on high-cost insurance plans was increased from $8,500 to $8,900 for individual plans and from $23,000 to $24,000 for family plans. An important new point in the deal is that these levels will be adjusted for inflation annually.
Another key issue that remains to be resolved is whether the health insurance exchange will be a national entity or state-based. Other issues still being negotiated include Medicare prescription coverage and abortion language. Many House Democrats are also still working to preserve some form of a public health insurance option in the bill.The option, as currently envisioned, does not have enough support to pass the Senate.
The ATS Washington Office is working to ensure that a number of key measures are included in the final legislation, including a House-passed measure to extend coverage of tobacco cessation services to all Medicaid beneficiaries, measures to increase patient access to clinical research participation, measures to address physician workforce shortages, including education incentives for pediatric specialties and funding for prevention programs.
There are a series of other issues that the ATS has actively advocated for throughout the debate, but to our disappointment are no longer in play at this final stage of negotiations. These issues include the public insurance option, Medicare coverage of end-of-life counseling and medical liability reform. Although these issues are unlikely to appear in the final health reform bill, the ATS will continue to advocate for these measures.
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