Bipartisan Plans for Uninsured Should be ‘Nurtured’ by New President, Columnist Writes

A possible "era of bipartisan cooperation" may help extend health coverage to 43 million Americans, regardless of the outcome of the presidential race, Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Matthew Miller writes. Miller explains that three "political pairings" of normally "bitter enemies" have worked to develop plans to expand health insurance coverage: a program released jointly by the Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA) and Families USA, an interview conducted by Miller with "ideological foes" Newt Gingrich and Ira Magaziner and the partnership being forged on the House Ways & Means Committee between "conservative" Rep. Jim McCrery (R-La.) and "liberal" Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) (Miller, Philadelphia Inquirer, 11/30). The HIAA and Families USA proposal is designed to halve the number of uninsured Americans and takes a three-pronged approach. It calls for expanding Medicaid to people under 65 earning up to 133% of the federal poverty level; allows states to expand CHIP coverage to certain adults; and establishes tax credits for businesses to encourage them to provide coverage to workers (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 11/21). Miller says the fact that Families USA and HIAA, who fought each other over President Clinton