Health Care Reform To Take Center Stage this year, experts p

Health care reform to take the stage this year, experts, Obama, Congress reorganizing health care in phases

Kelley M. Butler



President Barack Obama took office this month, and while stabilizing the economy is clearly the No. 1 priority, experts predict the provision of health care a proposal from the Oval Office this year.

"We have enormous problems - problems overwhelming - with the economy, but [the health care reform] will see some action this year," said Ted Nussbaum, director of Watson Wyatt health care consultation for the North America. "I think this issue has been at the top of the agenda Obama and [Sen.] Ted Kennedy will not pass, there will be a first phase plan presented this year."

Obama campaigned vigorously on the need for health care reform during 2007 and 2008. "When it comes to health care, we do not have to choose between a government run by the health system and the unaffordable one we have now. If you already have health insurance, the only thing that will change my plan is that we will reduce your premiums, "he said on the stump.

"If you do not have health insurance, you'll be able to get the same type of health insurance that members of Congress give themselves.

"For someone who looks at his own mother spend the final months of her life arguing with insurance companies because they claimed her cancer was a pre-condition, they do not want to pay for his treatment, I will stop insurance companies from discriminating against the people who are sick and need care the most, "said the chairman of the campaign throughout the country shuts down. Today, Obama is ready to its agenda the law in concrete, with his fellow Democrats willing to support, if not put forward proposals of their own.

Obama's plan

Although it has not sent a proposal to the Congress of the press as a time, President Obama outlined during the campaign several important changes he intends to make America care system health.

His plan:

* Require insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions.

* Provide a tax credit for small employers to offset the cost of health insurance for employees.

* Cover a portion of employers' catastrophic health expenses in exchange for lower premiums for employees.

* Investing in strategies to reduce preventable medical errors.

* Require large employers that do not offer coverage contribute a percentage of payroll into a pool to pay employees for health care.

* Allow the importation of medicines from other developed countries.

* Require hospitals to collect and report health care cost and quality data.

* Requiring coverage of preventive services including cancer screenings.

These large-scale initiatives undoubtedly bring a great price.

Although the president has said he will pay for the plan by repealing tax cuts for people earning over $ 250,000 per year, experts are cautious, as analysis has estimated that the plan will cost more 1 trillion dollars.

"It will be a huge, huge expenditure," said Nussbaum. "I have no idea where the money comes."

However, Shawn Jenkins, CEO of BenefitFocus, a South Carolina-based benefits software provider, said that the federal government on costs to rescue Wall Street and the rescue package could be a positive sign for health reform.

"There were many bold and a lot of money floating around. This could be a good environment for doing something happened. "

Baucus, Kennedy, Wyden propose plans

While expressing support for President Obama's overall health care reform vision, three Democratic senators have drafted their own plans.

Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.) introduced a similar plan to the presidency, which would maintain the employer-system, but require employers of a certain size to provide coverage or pay insurance pool. The plan is also in line with the president by prohibiting insurers from refusing to cover pre-existing. In addition, the plan offers tax credits to individuals who purchase private insurance, and subsidies to low-income families and small businesses. However, unlike Obama, Baucus' plan requires all Americans to buy health insurance.

Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who introduced the Act on the health of Americans, two years ago, also favors an individual mandate, but seems more boldly in that phase of the employer-based coverage. Under his plan, employers can spend most of what they pay for health coverage to pay the salaries of additional employees. When workers buy health insurance from Health Help Agencies (HHAs) managed by the States.

Though the bill technically retains employer-based coverage, Wyden would eliminate employers' tax exemption for the benefits to employers are reluctant to offer. Wyden's proposal is supported by 14 other senators of both parties.

At presstime, Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) has yet to unveil its own legislation on health care reform. However, in November, it has established working groups to address three areas of health care reform: prevention and public health, improving the quality of care and insurance coverage.

What employers want

For employers, the hand, a pre-election survey by Buck Consultants estimates that U.S. employers want to continue to provide health coverage to their employees, but are against a government to do so.

Most employers supported the holding of a health care system similar to what exists already, but adding:

* A safety net for the uninsured.

* A continuing, and perhaps expanded the role of health consumer-driven plans.

* A national program to promote health and well-being.

Among other conclusions, whether the mandate can become law, two thirds think employers should have the design of discretion, as the possibility of offering health consumer-driven plans.

As the Chamber of Commerce director of public affairs said Katie Strong Benefits Forum & Expo participants in September, "Employers feel they can manage health benefits and a much more flexible than the federal government."

Jenkins adds: "Employers feel they are doing an excellent job, to invest much time, energy and money in these plans, to [government] mandates will not be met with favor .

Perspectives'09

While both Jenkins Nussbaum and predict the movement of health care reform this year, Jenkins said he will be a long road to get there.

It summarizes the situation: "It is clear, there are many different opinions on how best to solve this problem - how to pay for [reform], which would be covered, whether to have a mandate, even mandate means. If we could simply come to a bill is unrealistic. We need to oppose it. "

Nussbaum agreed, adding that "the devil is always in the details, and now we have some concepts on the table and not much else."