Most, But Not All, Side With Baucus Health Reform Plan
Sen. Max Baucus today largely saw support for his new comprehensive healthcare reform proposal -- with some important caveats.
Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Baucus (D-Mont.) unveiled his “Call to Action” for health care reform in 2009, outlining a path to quality, affordable health care for all Americans, according to a statement from the committee.
The Baucus “white paper” details specific policy options for consideration by the 111th Congress. Healthcare reform has been identified as a top objective of both congressional Democrats, as well as President-elect Barack Obama.
A new, more Democratic-controlled Congress will be sworn in, come January 2009. Also, Obama will be sworn in as the 44th president on Jan. 20.
The main objectives of the Baucus plan are to achieve universal coverage, reduce health care costs and improve the quality of care our system provides. Baucus’s vision for achieving these objectives includes an individual responsibility to hold health insurance -– once quality, affordable care is accessible to all, according to the Baucus statement. He says that his plan seeks to reach that point through measures to shore up the employer-based system, through a one-stop insurance marketplace for individuals and businesses, and through limited expansions of public programs.
The plan also includes a number of insurance reforms to make the market work better for American health care consumers, and delivery system reforms that emphasize better quality, primary care for more patients, and a stronger focus on preventive care. Baucus also says he suggests potential savings and efficiencies
that can be found in a remade health care system to reduce the cost of reform.
“American families – and our economy – are in crisis over health care. We can’t get coverage to the 61 million who are either uninsured or underinsured without a major overhaul of the system, and there’s no way to really solve America’s economic troubles without fixing health care for the long term. I believe the policy ideas in this paper are the right way to start,” says Baucus. “I’m following some basic principles to improve access to care, to improve the quality of care, and to reduce costs. If you are happy with the coverage you have, you can keep it. But the system can work better and cost less for everyone, if leaders are willing to work together for sound policy solutions.
“I am committed to working with my colleagues here on Capitol Hill –- Democrats and Republicans -– and to working with the incoming Obama administration to really move the ball forward on health reform. In human and economic terms, there is really just no more time to waste,” Baucus adds.
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the nation's largest labor union for health care workers and a key backer of Democrats and the election of Obama, voices support for the Baucus plan, saying that the Baucus plan would improve "access to health care for millions of uninsured individuals while bringing down costs for everybody."
"On the heels of a historic election where voters ranked health care among their top overall issues -- and health care costs as their number one economic concern -- Senator Max Baucus's thoughtful and comprehensive approach to address the nation's broken health care system is a significant contribution to the growing discussion around solutions to the crisis," SEIU says.
Karen Ignagni, president and CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), also expresses willingness to work with Baucus and his proposals.
"Now is the time for health care reform," she says. "We commend Senator Baucus for putting forth a comprehensive reform proposal that addresses the key health care challenges facing the nation. We look forward to reading the plan and participating in the discussion to ensure all Americans have access to high-quality, affordable health care coverage."
AHIP says it represents health insurance plans that providing health benefits to more than 200 million Americans.
However, an organization called Consumer Watchdog counters Baucus' contention that the mandatory purchase of health insurance is popular with Americans by pointing to a poll showing that voters overwhelmingly reject requiring proof of private health insurance when they are told they might have to pay some of the premium costs.
Less than one in five voters (16 percent) support such a plan and nearly two-thirds (63 percent) were opposed when told insurers had no limit on how much they could charge, says the organization, which describes itself as a nationally recognized non-profit, non-partisan consumer advocacy group. Only one-in-three (32 percent) supported the mandatory purchase plan even if insurers' premiums were regulated, according to the poll.
Despite the poll, Consumer Watchdog also says it praises Baucus' efforts to:
-- Open Medicare to those over 55
-- Retain state regulation of insurance
-- Provide all Americans a "public option" to the private insurance market
Watch more breaking news now on our video feed:
Bookmark http://onthehillblog.blogspot.com/ and drop back in for more news from the nation's capital.
Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Baucus (D-Mont.) unveiled his “Call to Action” for health care reform in 2009, outlining a path to quality, affordable health care for all Americans, according to a statement from the committee.
The Baucus “white paper” details specific policy options for consideration by the 111th Congress. Healthcare reform has been identified as a top objective of both congressional Democrats, as well as President-elect Barack Obama.
A new, more Democratic-controlled Congress will be sworn in, come January 2009. Also, Obama will be sworn in as the 44th president on Jan. 20.
The main objectives of the Baucus plan are to achieve universal coverage, reduce health care costs and improve the quality of care our system provides. Baucus’s vision for achieving these objectives includes an individual responsibility to hold health insurance -– once quality, affordable care is accessible to all, according to the Baucus statement. He says that his plan seeks to reach that point through measures to shore up the employer-based system, through a one-stop insurance marketplace for individuals and businesses, and through limited expansions of public programs.
The plan also includes a number of insurance reforms to make the market work better for American health care consumers, and delivery system reforms that emphasize better quality, primary care for more patients, and a stronger focus on preventive care. Baucus also says he suggests potential savings and efficiencies
that can be found in a remade health care system to reduce the cost of reform.
“American families – and our economy – are in crisis over health care. We can’t get coverage to the 61 million who are either uninsured or underinsured without a major overhaul of the system, and there’s no way to really solve America’s economic troubles without fixing health care for the long term. I believe the policy ideas in this paper are the right way to start,” says Baucus. “I’m following some basic principles to improve access to care, to improve the quality of care, and to reduce costs. If you are happy with the coverage you have, you can keep it. But the system can work better and cost less for everyone, if leaders are willing to work together for sound policy solutions.
“I am committed to working with my colleagues here on Capitol Hill –- Democrats and Republicans -– and to working with the incoming Obama administration to really move the ball forward on health reform. In human and economic terms, there is really just no more time to waste,” Baucus adds.
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the nation's largest labor union for health care workers and a key backer of Democrats and the election of Obama, voices support for the Baucus plan, saying that the Baucus plan would improve "access to health care for millions of uninsured individuals while bringing down costs for everybody."
"On the heels of a historic election where voters ranked health care among their top overall issues -- and health care costs as their number one economic concern -- Senator Max Baucus's thoughtful and comprehensive approach to address the nation's broken health care system is a significant contribution to the growing discussion around solutions to the crisis," SEIU says.
Karen Ignagni, president and CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), also expresses willingness to work with Baucus and his proposals.
"Now is the time for health care reform," she says. "We commend Senator Baucus for putting forth a comprehensive reform proposal that addresses the key health care challenges facing the nation. We look forward to reading the plan and participating in the discussion to ensure all Americans have access to high-quality, affordable health care coverage."
AHIP says it represents health insurance plans that providing health benefits to more than 200 million Americans.
However, an organization called Consumer Watchdog counters Baucus' contention that the mandatory purchase of health insurance is popular with Americans by pointing to a poll showing that voters overwhelmingly reject requiring proof of private health insurance when they are told they might have to pay some of the premium costs.
Less than one in five voters (16 percent) support such a plan and nearly two-thirds (63 percent) were opposed when told insurers had no limit on how much they could charge, says the organization, which describes itself as a nationally recognized non-profit, non-partisan consumer advocacy group. Only one-in-three (32 percent) supported the mandatory purchase plan even if insurers' premiums were regulated, according to the poll.
Despite the poll, Consumer Watchdog also says it praises Baucus' efforts to:
-- Open Medicare to those over 55
-- Retain state regulation of insurance
-- Provide all Americans a "public option" to the private insurance market
Watch more breaking news now on our video feed:
Bookmark http://onthehillblog.blogspot.com/ and drop back in for more news from the nation's capital.
Labels: Barack Obama, Congress, Democrats, health insurance, Max Baucus, reform, Senate Finance Committee
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