Health care reform is on a fast track and the time to act is NOW.

 Helen Halpin

I just returned from a week in the Capitol, meeting with Congressional staff on health care reform, and learned that the Senate is expected have a bill ready for Congressional Budget Office (CBO) scoring in about two weeks and the House will follow shortly thereafter. The plan is to have bills out of Committee in June, floor votes in July, and to the President’s desk for signature on August 1st.  This is fast. However, many believe that if the Congress does not get a bill to the President by the August recess, the window of opportunity for comprehensive reform will close once again.

Now is the time to contact your Congressperson and Senators to tell them what is most important to you in a reformed health system.  Everything seems to be on the table.  For example, while there is a strong commitment for comprehensive prevention as part of the reform, there are serious concerns that CBO scoring rules will make prevention look too expensive.  And while progressives are pushing hard for a public plan option (and I have been one it’s strongest champions), we may need to be prepared to even let that go, if we want universal coverage (access), premium subsidies based on income (affordability), and a regulated insurance industry (equity and security). 

The three committees that are drafting legislation are the Senate Finance Committee (Baucus, Wyden, Grassley), the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (Kennedy, Dodd, Harkin, Sanders), and the House Energy and Commerce Committee (Waxman). These are the key players.  The Baucus, Kennedy, and Waxman bills are likely to resemble closely President Obama’s proposal.  However, the Wyden bill could also prove to be viable, as it is a bipartisan bill that provides universal coverage by regulating the private health insurance industry.  And Senator Sanders and Congressman Conyers have introduced single payer bills.

My biggest fear is that everyone is taking their corners, itching for a fight. The moderate Democrats are balking at spending the money needed for universal coverage and they are unlikely to support the public plan option. The far left is so committed to single payer, that they are unlikely to support a regulated market reform.  And those who support the public plan option, may not support any reform that does not include that choice. Sometimes the Democrats can be their own worst enemies. But what will be required is for Democrats to come together this time; we may all have to compromise and not let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Bottom line:  Tell Congress what you want, but everyone needs to be prepared to give a little to get a lot -- universal, comprehensive, affordable, high quality healthcare for all Americans.

Posted via web from jimnichols's posterous