Senate Finance Panel Will Move Health Bill Soon, Baucus Says
“I am committed to getting health-care reform done — done soon and done right,” Baucus, a Montana Democrat, said in a statement yesterday after a 90-minute conference call with five other senators from both political parties.
One Democratic aide said that Baucus, in order to force some decisions from negotiators, is preparing a legislative proposal for discussion when the six senators meet again on Sept. 8. Congress returns to Washington that day after a monthlong recess.
During the recess, lawmakers held town-hall meetings across the U.S. that highlighted unease among many voters that a revamp of the health-care system may jeopardize their current coverage.
Baucus didnt specify yesterday whether he is prepared to advance the measure even without Republican support. Senate Democratic leaders have given his panel until Sept. 15 to reach an agreement.
Lawmakers, trying to extend coverage to millions of uninsured Americans and rein in costs, are considering mandates on employers to provide coverage, new rules for insurers and creating a government-operated program to compete with private insurers such as Hartford, Connecticut-based Aetna Inc.
One Republican who participated in negotiations expressed optimism a pact can be reached.
Shared Goal
“Todays discussion was both productive and constructive as we continue to move forward as a group toward a shared goal of producing an historic, bipartisan agreement on health reform legislation,” said Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine in a statement.
The other two Republicans in Baucuss negotiating group, Charles Grassley of Iowa and Mike Enzi of Wyoming, heightened their criticism of Democrats overhaul ideas this month. Even so, both have insisted they are continuing to try to work on a deal.
The talks may offer the last chance for a bipartisan accord to remake the $2.5 trillion medical-care system. Democrats are threatening to use parliamentary tactics to force a measure through the Senate on a party-line vote if the two parties cant agree, a move that Republicans warn will undercut public support for any plan.
The other lawmakers in the bipartisan Senate panel talks are Democrats Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico and Kent Conrad of North Dakota. None of the other lawmakers involved in the phone meeting had a comment.
Baucus said yesterday that the bipartisan group already shares many areas of agreement, and he and other members — including Conrad and Snowe — have already outlined key areas the group tentatively supports. They include a requirement that most Americans have insurance coverage, and the creation of a new online “exchange” where the uninsured could purchase health insurance at lower-cost group rates.
Baucus also wants to drop from his plan two areas that have drawn Republican opposition — creation of a new government program to compete with private insurers and a mandate that all employers provide coverage or pay a penalty. Instead, he wants to utilize nonprofit co-operatives to provide competition, and only penalize employers whose workers get coverage through government assistance such as Medicaid.
Baucus wants to put in place new rules for insurers, including a ban on denial of coverage for people with pre- existing medical conditions. The group in recent months has been discussing an expansion of Medicaid to cover those with incomes at 133 percent of the poverty level or below, and tax credits for people with incomes up to 300 percent of the poverty level.
Cost of Plan
Baucus said last month that his plan will cost less than $900 billion over 10 years. Rival measures passed by the Senate health committee and three House panels carry a price tag of about $1 trillion.
He has said his plan would be offset by spending cuts and tax increases, including a tax on insurers providing the most expensive “Cadillac” health insurance plans.
Obama speaks to labor leaders Sept. 7 and to a joint session of Congress on Sept. 9 as he attempts to rebuild support for his top domestic priority, one that affects 17 percent of the economy.