Senate Health Care Bill
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| Amanda Tetlak |
| 11/19/2009 |
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| It`s a complex bill of more than 2,000 pages and most lawmakers are still trying to digest it. The House has already passed its version of the bill. The Senate has just finished writing its version and plans to vote on it next week. The legislation is estimated extending coverage to 94-percent of eligible Americans to a tune of $879 billion, and Senator Kent Conrad says that`s a good start. After months of maneuvering, the Senate finally molded two committee-passed bills into one piece of legislation. "I give high remarks to Leader Reid for the proposal he made," says Conrad. "It is a proposal that will improve quality. It will help contain exploding costs." The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill will lower the deficit by $127 billion in the first 10 years. How? By placing a five-percent tax on elective cosmetic surgery and increasing Medicare payroll taxes for the wealthy. The bill sets up insurance marketplaces called exchanges with a number of insurance options. One, a government-run public option states can opt-out of by passing legislation that Senator Conrad says isn`t tied to Medicare reimbursement rates. There`s also another option Conrad fought for in the Senate Finance Committee. "Have included not-for-profit cooperative approach, again as another option for people to use and I think it would be an attractive one," says Conrad. One of the biggest items of contention is a difference between the House and Senate bills, and one state Republicans aren`t happy about. "The abortion clause that Harry Reid is willing to use taxpayer dollars to fund abortion and have those procedures covered in the government plan for health care," says Adam Jones, of the ND Republican party. Conrad says while the public plan could provide abortion coverage, it won`t be paid for with federal dollars. "The goal has been set to ensure that they`re not taxpayer funding of abortion," says Conrad. "That is a position that I have long held. We still have to examine the language to see if it accomplishes that goal so that`s something we still have to analyze." By 2014, most Americans will be mandated to have insurance, or face penalties. Lawmakers are expected to make their first vote on the bill Saturday. Democrats need 60 votes to clear the way for debate that`s expected to last much of December. Senator Conrad has committed to voting yes on Saturday, but says depending on how the bill is further amended, he may not vote yes on final passage. |
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