this week at the Health Reform
Scott Brown’s victory over Republican Attorney General Martha Coakley of Massachusetts (D) in the January 19 special election to fill the vacancy of the late Senator Edward Kennedy (D) may prove to be a game-changer for the discussion of health reform. The loss of the Democratic vote now robs 60th Senate Democrats a filibuster-proof majority. Last week, Democrats are racing to conclude a House / Senate bill, probably due to reports that have Coakley declined.
Congressional leaders are still trying to get the most controversial issues in health care reform bill to be resolved as soon as possible so they can send the bill committed to the Budget Office Congress (CBO) to score. The CBO then have 12 days to review the legislation.
Senate Majority Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), legislators participating in the meetings of the White House are : House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC), House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA), Ways and Means, President Committee Charlie Rangel (D-NY), House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-CA), Assistant Senate Majority Leader Richard Durbin (D-IL), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Max Baucus (D-MT), chairman of the Senate HELP Committee, Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd (D-CT).
The main point of conflict between the two houses of Congress referred to the excise
40 percent on health insurance expensive plans approved by the Senate. Because many union members would be affected by the high costs imposed on health insurance plans, the House of Representatives is not in favor of this provision in the Senate bill. Union leaders also are included in key negotiations on this provision, and January 14, said they are willing to support legislation providing merged with compromised.
The main source of revenue for the senate health care reform bill (HR 3590) would be a tax – in 2013 – in the employer-provided, insurance high-cost health plans that cost more than, 500 for individuals and 000 for a family. The commitment reported on current legislation makes the tax throw-in policy costs, 900 for individuals and 000 for families. The tax threshold would rise with inflation plus one percentage point, as written in the Senate bill. In addition, dental and vision benefits will be eliminated from the calculation of the cost threshold, and the plans offered by state and local governments, as well as plans covered by collective agreements, would be exempt from excise tax until 2018. This would allow the current arrangements expire and allow the negotiation of new contracts.
In an effort to compensate for the lack of income from the modification of the provision for excise duties, management will have to come with new funding for the merged bill. Some reports have mentioned that the pharmaceutical industry is committed to offering more money than the millions that have already negotiated with the White House. Medical device companies may also face additional charges. Parts of the main source of income in the House bill – a tax on the rich list of Medicare residents in the U.S. -. It could add so
January 14, Richard Trumpka, president of the AFL-CIO, said, “Union leaders approached the negotiations with the White House and congressional leaders with one goal in mind -. get a bill signed into law, “Gerald McEntee, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), said:” We like the way it is taking shape but still not over. We need to see a final product “
There has been considerable debate -. But no solution so far – on the question of whether to establish a single national exchange of health insurance or allow each state operates its own exchange. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas continues to support an approach based on the state of trade.