America's Lower House Passes Healthcare Bill
US Congressional Representatives Ratify HR 3962 by Vote of 220 - 215
Nov 8, 2009
Amid pressure from the Democratic Party’s leaders, President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the US Congress passed the much debated healthcare reform act. Strategic mistakes, made by Republicans, allowed conservative Blue Dog Democrats to vote for the measure once provisions for abortion were taken into account. As conservative Representative Nick J. Rahall, D-WV said on his website Saturday night, “I have been a pro-life Member of Congress since I was first elected…which is why I voted in favor of H.R. 3962….”
The Bart Stupak Abortion Amendment
“That was easy,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after the vote. Nothing could be further from the truth as Pelosi delivered on a task Democrats have been trying to complete since Rep. John D. Dingell’s father first introduced such a bill in 1943.
With 39 Democrats (including PA’s Rep. Jason Altmire) voting against the bill, it was imperative that the amendment prohibiting federal funding of abortions pass. Blue Dog Democrats Jared Polis and Nick Rahall (among others) were now able to vote in favor of the legislation guaranteeing success. The sole Republican voting in favor of the bill (thus providing bi-partisan support) was Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao of Louisiana. His press release after the vote said, "I have always said that I would put aside partisan wrangling to do…what is best for my constituents."
Major Points
Supporters of the bill were elated. The American Medical Association released a strong supporting statement, "The AMA hails the passage of the House health reform bill, which will help improve the health system for patients and physicians….” A list of the major provisions is below.
- Includes the seeds of a public health care option.
- Caps out-of-pocket spending.
- Ends co-payments for preventive care.
- Provides premium subsidies for those who need them.
- Gives tax credits to small businesses.
- Eliminates the prescription drug “donut hole” in Medicare Part D. The gap, between $2,700 and $6,100 annually, requires elderly to pay the $3,400 difference.
- Allows Medicare to negotiate drug costs.
- Provides free preventive care and wellness check-ups.
- Extends Medicare financial solvency by 5 years.
- Allows young people to remain on their parents’ insurance policy up to age 27.
- Allows individuals to keep their COBRA health coverage until the Health Insurance Exchange is up and running.
- Allows for States to enter into agreements to allow for the sale of insurance across state lines.
- Ends the blanket exemption of insurance companies from anti-trust laws.
- Strengthens oversight and enforcement measures to cut down on fraud, waste and abuse in the health care system.
The list of opponents consisted mainly of House Republicans (save Cao), insurance companies, the pharmaceutical industry and some large corporations. Their reasons vary but most show concern in three areas.
- Competition - insurance and drug companies must now compete across state lines, internationally, possibly with the government and without anti-trust exemptions.
- Mandated Coverage – restricts profits, forces coverage of the unprofitable, mandates near universal coverage, pre-existing conditions and plan options.
- Fees– changes co-pay, out-of-pocket requirements, coverage limits, policy prices and preventive care.
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