This afternoon Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told reporters that the Finance Committee will act on its portion of the bill before Congress' month-long break. Then Sen. Reid will merge that bill with separate legislation already passed by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. The Nevada Democrat says the decision to delay a vote was made Wednesday night in the hopes of getting a final bipartisan bill.
As I have suggested in the past, the odds of getting a “bipartisan bill” that would truly reform healthcare, providing sustainable, affordable care for everyone are slim to none. Most Republicans do not want true health care reform; certainly they do not want changes that cut into the profits of the for-profit healthcare industry. Polls show that Republicans see covering everyone as a secondary goal. Meanwhile less than 20 percent of all Americans now identify themselves as Republicans. So the Senate’s futile quest for a bipartisan solution would seem to be putting the interests of a minority ahead of the hopes of the majority of Americans who would like the security of healthcare reform as soon as possible.
As President Obama pointed out Wednesday night, the longer we delay, the higher health care costs rise –while more and more Americans lose their health insurance.
Nevertheless, the Washington Post continues to take a skeptical view of the reform process:
“That the Senate would miss President Obama's Aug. 7 deadline had been obvious for days, if not weeks,” the Post declared, “as the Finance Committee methodically crafts the one version of the legislation that is expected to gain bipartisan support. But Reid finally made it official, informing reporters that he had granted a request for more time from GOP negotiators.
"’I don't think it's unreasonable,’ said Reid. ‘This is a complex, difficult issue.’”
According to the Post, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) is also hedging on the timing question. On Wednesday, she told reporters she had the votes to pass a reform bill next week. The House is scheduled to leave one week earlier than the Senate, on July 31, for its recess.
“But today, she left open the possibility of bringing the legislation to the floor in September. ‘I'm not afraid of August. It's just a month,’ she said, remaining confident the bill would clear the House eventually. ‘We will take the bill to the floor when it is ready.’”
Unfortunately, August is more than “just a month.” It gives those who oppose reform another 31 days to spread misinformation along with outright lies designed to create fears that will undermine public support for reform.
I’ll be writing more about how the mainstream media has ignored the good news about reform—while reinforcing concerns that health care reform will either be unaffordable, or require great sacrifices in a separate post.
Maggie:
You are continuing to spouse rhetoric anout republicans not wanting reform. Please stop those lies.
Reform is needed. But not the type of reform now going through Congress.
I heard a talk show host today noting that the new language is “health insurance reform” instead of “health care reform.” He was trying to make fun of it, but couldn’t help admitting that it really sounds a lot better. People tend to dislike insurance as much as lawyers or banks, and it sounds like a good idea, but “health care reform” triggers a different visceral response.
I don’t know about you, but I like the sound of it better. I just wish whoever hatched the idea had done so about six months ago.
Uh, and what might that reform look like?
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A month is a long time!! It is a long time to spread mis information and its a long time for Americans to agonize over being uninsured and its a long time to keep this country paralyzed. We have waited way too long and need change and we need it now – not in another month!!
Agree with DrSH. Liberals only want to hear one side-theirs. Finally the media is starting to see that his every word doesn’t glow! Change is definitly needed, but the misinformation about the 40+ million who are uninsured, when the true “medically uninsured” figure is far less and we don’t need to throw out a system that covers the majority (albeit expensively). I have four simple words for any form of national plan that gets passed, and it will. They are “get healthy” “stay healthy” You won’t have a choice.
Check out the CATO Institute full-page ad with a glowering Uncle Sam pointing at you, headed “Your New Doctor?” scaring people with “Health care reform is needed. But a government takeover is not the answer.”
http://healthcare.cato.org/campaign
Doctor SH–
I am continuing to
“spouse rhetoric” ??
Not sure what you were trying to say.
But Republicans have made it clear that they do not want change. See my most recent post, and the conference call between a Republican leader, and an unconvicted felon, Rick Scott, leader of a group that has made it clear that it doesn’t want reform.
Hootsbuddy–
I agree–“Health Insurance Reform” is a better phrase. Many Americans believe that we have the best “heatlhcare” in the world–so why change it?
We don’t have the best healthcare– but people dont’ want to hear that.
Still, as you say, many people do understand that our health insurance system is lacking. They like Medicare; they are not as enthusiastic about private insurers.
Re your second comment: Democrats can’t–and shouldn’t–try to be too specific about what reform will look like.
First, and most importantly: we don’t know.
Wisely, the president doesn’t plan to try to role out universal coverage until 2013. Some things will happen before then: Medicare reform, Medicaid expansion, lower drugs prices and insurance company regulation so that insurers can’t penalize people with pre-existing conditions.
In many other areas, we need to experiment to find out what works and what doesn’t to reduce costs while lifting quality.
Thtat why we won’t have subsidies, a mandate, or a public insurance option until 2013.
This gives us 3 1/2 years to hammer out the 1,000 crucial details–time that we will need. This will also give hospitals, doctors and insurers time to prepare for charge.
The second reason that the administration shouldn’t try to make details clear now: those who oppose reform will take any details, twist them, and use them as ammunition to fear-monger.
Finally, I know you’ve been wondering when DVDs of the film, “Money-Driven Medicine” will be available.
The distributor tells me that a website will be up Monday, with a link that will give people an opportunity to purchase DVDS.
Monday, I hope to post the link to the website here on HealthBeat.
Gail–
I agree. I’m very disappointed about the delay.
I await the disappointing legislation the Senate Finance committee will release under Senator Baucus. The “Public” option must be a real public option.
Time will tell whether the Senate Democrats represent the “People” or HELP Big $$$$$ to kill reform.
Joining this bill with the HELP committee bill will SHOW who represents MY interests.
I voted for REAL change in 2008- the change a REAL public option will help deliver.
I don’t forget the chairman of the finance committee supported the Bush “Tax Cuts” and the “Non-Government involvement in Medicare Part D drug pricing by the Drug industry.
He seems to forget THE PEOPLE come FIRST !
Party Fanatic–
Yes, Baucus is true to form– selling out.
I’m still hopeful that the White House will pull this out of hte fire. They have two advantages: a)they are smarter and b)they are right.
Without real reform, healthcare will break the economy.
As Obama put it in his press conference: the altneraitve is healthcare that is twice as expensive in 10 years– and many, many more unisured Americans.