CQ’s Carey Discusses Senate Medicare Package, Veterans’ Care Legislation, Small-Business Health Insurance Bill
Mary Agnes Carey, associate editor of CQ HealthBeat, discusses Senate Republicans' efforts to block a Democratic Medicare package, legislation to help veterans better navigate the Veterans Affairs health care system and a measure that is intended to make health insurance more affordable for small businesses in this week's "Health on the Hill from kaisernetwork.org and CQ."
According to Carey, Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) was unable to obtain the 60 votes needed to begin debate on a Medicare package that would delay for 18 months a scheduled 10.6% cut to Medicare physician payments. In an attempt to gain more Republican support for the package, Baucus added a provision that would have delayed a Medicare competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment, but he still fell six votes short of preventing a filibuster. The DME program has been criticized by some suppliers as flawed in several ways, but CMS officials say they have found no major problems with the program, which is scheduled to begin July 1. Committee ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) also has introduced legislation that would delay the Medicare physician payment cut but that would make fewer changes to Medicare Advantage plans than Baucus' bill. Carey says that Baucus and Grassley could reach an agreement on legislation to delay the physician fee cut, but the bill might delay the payment cut for a shorter period than 18 months.
Carey also discusses two bills recently approved by the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health. One of the measures would call for the appointment of six regional ombudsmen who would help veterans understand their benefits and submit claims to the Veterans Health Administration and the Veterans Benefits Administration. The other bill would authorize $5 million annually from fiscal year 2009 to FY 2013 to establish epilepsy centers of excellence within VA's poly-trauma rehabilitation centers. The House also recently approved legislation that would provide $30 million from FY 2009 to FY 2013 to support pediatric cancer research institutes, create a childhood cancer database and provide information about the diseases to families. A Senate version of the measure has stalled, but the House approval could put pressure on the Senate to take action, Carey says.
Lastly, Carey discusses legislation supported by a bipartisan group of House members that would allow small businesses to form nationwide or statewide pools to purchase health coverage. The measure also would provide targeted tax credits for small-business owners to offset contributions to employee premiums and would ban health status ratings by insurers to keep costs down for businesses. A similar bill is pending in the Senate. The measures are supported by business and union groups, as well as other advocacy groups, Carey says.
The complete audio version of "Health on the Hill," transcript and resources for further research are available online at kaisernetwork.org.
