Baucus Says Health Bill Is Solid

By Laura Smith, University Of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) said Monday that a significant step was taken last week when the Senate Finance Committee approved the America’s Healthy Future Act.

“Our bill lowers federal deficit, ends insurance discrimination, expands coverage … improves quality, and also guarantees [that] in our country, finally, nobody will ever go broke just because they get sick,” Baucus said during a teleconference with reporters.

The Montana Democrat went on to comment that he thinks one of the biggest travesties in America is how many people go bankrupt because of high medical bills.

Baucus, who chairs the Finance Commitee, said the bill will help with lowering costs, be deficit neutral in approximately 10 years and will protect Americans from harmful insurance industry practices. Baucus also stressed that the legislation will stop companies from denying coverage to those who have pre-existing conditions and to those who become ill while insured.

“It’s going to be reform that will provide real, quality, affordable health insurance for millions more Americans,” Baucus said. “It’s also a reform measure that can pass.”