The issues of health care and health insurance garnered plenty of attention and legislative activity in 2008. The volume of the activity clearly shows that lawmakers know that health care and insurance are issues that are of utmost import to Americans. Fewer and fewer can afford coverage as insurance premiums and prescriptons go through the roof and deductibles still continue to rise. In Washington DC recently, a health care forum was sponsored by two non-partisan organizations which brought to the fore that the general consensus amongst Senate staffers is that there is an expectation that major health care reform can be achieved in 2009.
Since Senator Kennedy (D-MA) relinquished his seat on the Senate Judiciary committee a few weeks ago to work specifically on health care reform, the resolve in Congress to pass sweeping legislation seems to be growing. John McDonough, a health care aide to Senator Kennedy stated that the Senator is committed to achieving comprehensive health care reform and is very confident it can be done in the upcoming Congress.
Dr. Mark L. Hayes, the Senate Finance Committee's GOP Health Policy Advisor addressed the need for bipartisanship if a bill is to get passed. He stated that something must be done now rather than later, and that the cost of not acting now instead of in 15 years could be severe, considering that Federal health care spending is growing at a rate that can not be maintained. Similarly, Charles Clapton, the Republican Health Policy Director advised that he also thought health care reform could get done with Republican support. But with the huge deficits facing Congress, the money would have to be reallocated from other needy programs. He said that the Republicans want a system which will emphasize that private plans should be delivering the benefit instead of the government because the private sector could provide the most innovation, unencumbered by government.
An aide to Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Jocelyn Moore was also at the forum. She asserted that all options are still on the table and that Senator Rockefeller is committed to a successful plan, remaining ready and eager to work with Congress and the new Admistration. Moore stressed that the issues of effective preventative care, affordability, and unnecessary spending all need to be addressed.
The ranks of the unemployed are growing monthly, with nearly 1.2 million jobs eliminated in November and December alone. And the newly unemployed are not likely to be able to afford to maintain their health care coverage for long. The issue seems to be growing as a matter of urgency, and hopefully Congress will realize that health care is not a partisan issue, as they work together in 2009 to pass a comprehensive universal health care plan. - 16492
Since Senator Kennedy (D-MA) relinquished his seat on the Senate Judiciary committee a few weeks ago to work specifically on health care reform, the resolve in Congress to pass sweeping legislation seems to be growing. John McDonough, a health care aide to Senator Kennedy stated that the Senator is committed to achieving comprehensive health care reform and is very confident it can be done in the upcoming Congress.
Dr. Mark L. Hayes, the Senate Finance Committee's GOP Health Policy Advisor addressed the need for bipartisanship if a bill is to get passed. He stated that something must be done now rather than later, and that the cost of not acting now instead of in 15 years could be severe, considering that Federal health care spending is growing at a rate that can not be maintained. Similarly, Charles Clapton, the Republican Health Policy Director advised that he also thought health care reform could get done with Republican support. But with the huge deficits facing Congress, the money would have to be reallocated from other needy programs. He said that the Republicans want a system which will emphasize that private plans should be delivering the benefit instead of the government because the private sector could provide the most innovation, unencumbered by government.
An aide to Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Jocelyn Moore was also at the forum. She asserted that all options are still on the table and that Senator Rockefeller is committed to a successful plan, remaining ready and eager to work with Congress and the new Admistration. Moore stressed that the issues of effective preventative care, affordability, and unnecessary spending all need to be addressed.
The ranks of the unemployed are growing monthly, with nearly 1.2 million jobs eliminated in November and December alone. And the newly unemployed are not likely to be able to afford to maintain their health care coverage for long. The issue seems to be growing as a matter of urgency, and hopefully Congress will realize that health care is not a partisan issue, as they work together in 2009 to pass a comprehensive universal health care plan. - 16492
About the Author:
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