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July 2, 2009

Congressional Activity
"I'm just a bill
Yes I'm only a bill,
And I got as far as Capitol Hill.
Well, now I'm stuck in committee
And I'll sit here and wait
While a few key Congressmen discuss and debate
Whether they should let me be a law.
How I hope and pray that they will,
But today I am still just a bill."

Schoolhouse Rock, 1975

As discussed in our latest update, national health care reform bills were released at a very intense pace at the beginning of June. As discussed below, they are now "stuck in Committee" as Congress discusses and debates.

Senate HELP
Meanwhile, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, continued to slog through the almost 400 amendments that were submitted to the Committee after the bill was introduced. Approximately 200 amendments have been reviewed, primarily dealing with quality, efficiency, fraud and abuse, and health care workforce. Of course, because the bill was silent regarding the government option, the role of employers, and generic biologics, amendments to these provisions have not yet been submitted. Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), who is "chairing" the HELP Committee in Senator Edward Kennedy's (D-MA) absence, believes that the Committee may receive the cost estimate ("score") on these provisions from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) this week and plans to release the legislative language soon thereafter.

Senate Finance
As expected, the Senate Finance Committee declined to release legislative language on its health care reform bill in an effort to reduce the overall "price tag" of the legislation and achieve greater bipartisan support. It is believed that the Committee has managed to drop the cost of the bill from $1.6 trillion to $1 trillion over the past ten days. In addition, recognizing that they would be the last Committee to release legislative language, just before Congress adjourned for its Independence Day recess, seven members (three Democrats and four Republicans) of the Finance Committee released a statement assuring that "Reforming America's health care system is a tremendous challenge, but it's a challenge we simply have to face. The issues facing reform are difficult and complex, but over the past several months, we've made progress toward workable solutions. As we have been for the last several weeks, we are committed to continuing our work toward a bipartisan bill that will lower costs and ensure quality, affordable care for every American."

House Tri-Committee
Upon releasing legislative language last Friday, the House Committees of jurisdiction (Energy & Commerce, Ways & Means, and Education & Workforce), held a series of six hearings last week with panels representing insurers, employers, physicians, hospitals, consumers, economists, nurses, and unions.

White House Activity
In keeping with the successful grassroots campaigning that President Obama launched during his run for President, the Administration has been focused on taking the health care reform message to the people. In addition to hosting roundtables, and ABC/News forum at the White House and a town hall—live and online, of course—the President and members of his Administration have been focused on making a direct appeal to the media, average citizens and specific policymakers. It is considered the most apparent "full-court press" in support of health care reform this year. Simultaneously, the GOP has stepped up its game in both political and media arenas to note its opposition to a government plan and other issues under consideration by Congress and the Administration.

It has been in these forums, as well as the Sunday morning talk shows, that potential signs of compromise have been shown. The President himself noted that he will not "draw a line in the sand" on issues of a government option. Aides to the President also revealed that the President may be open to a cap on health benefits. While the President has not supported a specific proposal, policies under consideration in Congress include taxing as income that portion of health benefits that exceeds the value of a standard FEP plan (approximately $17,240/family and $6,800/individuals.

What’s Next?
During the Independence Day Congressional Recess, there will be substantial grassroots activity in support of health care reform as members of Congress are in their districts. As soon as Congress reconvenes on July 6th, the House committees of jurisdiction will begin the process of "marking-up" their bill so that the full chamber may vote on it by the end of July. The Senate HELP Committee will complete the mark-up process on the provisions already released and begin the process on the public plan, employer mandates, and generic biologics. The Senate Finance Committee will need to release its legislative language and begin the committee mark-up process shortly thereafter.

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