House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) claimed during the unveiling ceremony for the Affordable Health Care For America Act that the drafting of the bill was the most transparent process he had seen in his twenty-nine year career. (0:15)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) introduced the final draft of health care reform legislation Thursday that, like the recently announced sister legislation in the Senate, will include a government administered insurance option.
“The [Affordable Health Care For America Act] will expand coverage, including a public option to boost choice and competition in health insurance reform,” said Pelosi during an unveiling ceremony with other House Democrats at the U.S. Capitol.
While the public plan introduced Thursday is likely to satisfy moderate Democrats, it runs the risk of upsetting progressives, who have long been pushing for a more “robust” option. As it now stands, the public option grants health care providers more leverage in reimbursement rate negotiations.
Still, Pelosi lauded the bill during the ceremony, claiming that it will be deficit neutral, close the Medicare Part D coverage “donut hole” and extend coverage to 96% of Americans. Pelosi also promised that the bill will be available online 72 hours before it reaches the floor.
The Speaker’s remarks were briefly interrupted by megaphone wielding pro-life protestors. Pelosi responded to the distraction, quipping “thank you, insurance companies of America.” The demonstrators were not permitted entrance to the closed ceremony.
At the ceremony’s close, Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), the longest serving member of the House, presented the Speaker with the gavel used during the passage of Medicare.
Congressman John Kline (R-Minn) urges his colleagues in the House to hit the reset button on health care reform, and to try a new strategy that is not only bipartisan, but will not take away coverage benefits for 10 million Americans.(0:30)
Sen. Roland W. Burris (D-Ill.) says Wednesday on the Senate floor that a public option plan would spur innovation in the health insurance industry. (0:51)
By Leah Valencia – University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) spoke out against a public option Wednesday saying that a government-owned and operated insurance plan would create debt and put private insurers out of business.
“It is not a time for a trillion dollar experiment in government health care, now is a time to buckle down financially and to find common sense reforms in the areas of health care,” McConnell said.
He said that including a public option, or government-run health insurance plan, will make it impossible for private insurers to compete.
“The option [Democrats] are advocating will soon be the only option, the others will simply fade away,” McConnell said. “Private health plans would fade away because a government-run plan would use the deep pockets of the federal government to set artificially low prices.”
Republican opposition to healthcare reform has stiffened since Monday when Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced that the Senate health care bill would include a public option with an opt-out provision.
GOP leaders have said they will filibuster the bill, leaving Democrats with the challenge of coming up with 60 votes.
Travis Martinez, Univerity of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) argued Tuesday that a vote of cloture to proceed with the Democrats’ health care reform bill will be perceived by the public as a vote to endorse “half a trillion in Medicare cuts, four hundred billion in new taxes and higher health insurance premiums for all.”
McConnell explained the dilemma Senators will face when the motion of cloture comes forth, invoking the specter of Sen. John Kerry’s (D-Mass.) unsuccessful presidential campaign.
“I think we all remember the Kerry campaign and we all remember the difficulty of explaining to our constituents why we were for something before we were against it,” McConnell said, referencing a statement Kerry made on his feelings toward the Iraq war.
“I think it is perfectly clear that most Americans will treat the vote to get on with the [health care] bill as a vote on the substance of the bill,” the Republican leader added.
America’s Health Insurance Plans CEO Karen Ignagni ask how Congress and the health care industry will address issues of fiscal responsibility and fairness if Congress requires people to buy health insurance coverage.
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Former Congressional Budget Office Director Doug Holtz-Eakin says providing health care coverage at the state level could be provided via incentives, and would allow both states and private insurers more flexibility in coverage.
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National Association of Health Underwriters CEO Janet Trautwein says “people with pre-existing conditions use more health care.” She says in order for the health insurance industry to balance the costs of coverage, both healthy and sick people should be in the pool. (0:36)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the purpose of health care reform is improving quality, lowering costs, expanding coverage and retaining choice for those who like what they already have. According to the Speaker “heath care reform is entitlement reform” and that is “essential” to reducing the deficit. (0:25)
