Senate begins healthcare reform roll out
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"Over the next few days, we will continue working with our Republican colleagues on common sense solutions that reduce skyrocketing healthcare costs, assure quality care for all and provide affordable health insurance choices. Much work remains, and the coming days and weeks won't be easy," Kennedy said.
Democrats and Republicans met Wednesday and today to discuss outstanding legislative alternatives such as the public option and employer mandate. Also, a public hearing is scheduled for today, and the bill mark-up is set to begin June 16.
The bill can be accessed at http://help.senate.gov/BAI09A84_xml.pdf.
Under the 615-page plan, Americans would be able to buy long-term care insurance from the government for about $65 per month. However, individuals would need to pay into the program for at least five years to receive coverage. The bill would also enact stricter government rules for private health insurance, especially in regards to which applicants they were allowed to reject. The legislation would also expand Medicaid.
The Associated Press reported that a similar healthcare bill being crafted in the House is almost identical to the HELP Committee bill. Both include requirements for every U.S. adult to buy health insurance if they can afford it, with waivers for those who cannot.
The bill vows to incorporate quality improvement and measurement in the strategic plan for health IT, as required by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. Specifically, it suggests that health IT be incorporated for the collection of measures at the point of care. In addition, it provides for the expansion of demonstration projects for improving the quality of children's healthcare and the use of health IT, such as through Pediatric Quality Improvement Collaboratives and Learning Networks.
Under the bill, a Health Care Delivery System Research Center would be established "to identify, develop, evaluate, disseminate, and provide training in innovative methodologies and strategies for quality improvement practices in the delivery of healthcare services that represent best practices in healthcare quality, safety and value."
The bill appropriates $20 million for fiscal years 2010 through 2014 for the center. Also, all research findings and results generated are to be shared with the Office of the National Coordinator of Health IT, as well as any relevant standards, certification criteria or implementation specifications
The reform provides its largest investment in prevention and wellness initiatives, according to Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa.
"At the federal level, it creates a new inter-agency council to develop a national health strategy and a dedicated funding stream to support these efforts; at the clinical level, it provides coverage of preventive services and the elimination of co-pays and deductibles for these services; and at the grassroots level it offers grants for community initiatives," he said.
According to the bill's authors, the Affordable Health Choices Act includes the following five major elements:
- Choice: The Act is built on the following principle: If you like the coverage you have now, you keep it. But if you don't have health insurance or don't like the insurance you have, the bill will give you new, more affordable options.
- Cost reduction: The Act will seek to reduce healthcare costs through stronger prevention, better quality of care and use of health IT. It will also root out fraud and abuse and reduce unnecessary procedures.
- Prevention: The Act will seek to make information available in medical settings, schools and communities. It will also promote early screening for heart disease, cancer and depression, providing citizens more information on healthy nutrition and the dangers of smoking.
- Health system modernization: The Act will take steps to train doctors, nurses, and other health professionals. It will make sure that patients' care is better coordinated so they see the right doctors, nurses and other health practitioners can address their individual health needs.
- Long term care and services: The Act will seek to make it possible for the elderly and disabled to live at home and function independently. It will help them afford to put ramps in their homes, pay someone to check in on them regularly or any of an array of supports to allow them to stay in their communities.
Earlier this year, Kennedy and Senator Max Baucus, D-Mont., Chairman of the Finance Committee--which shares jurisdiction of healthcare reform with HELP--established a joint process that led to complementary legislation. Baucus said that he plans to release his bill next week.