Latest Finance Committee Roundtable On Health Care Reform To Examine Public Plan Option

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 06 May 2009 - 3:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions

Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) said the committee will focus on coverage options, including the possibility of creating a public plan, on Tuesday in the second of three roundtable discussions on health care reform proposals, CQ HealthBeat reports. The Finance Committee roundtables bring together advocacy groups and experts representing a range of interests and ideologies regarding the health care reform debate, including AARP, America's Health Insurance Plans, Families USA, the National Governors Association and others. The first meeting focused on delivery options, while the third will examine costs and financing. The committee will then hold a closed-door session to discuss possible legislation and examine two or three possible public-plan options. Baucus said he will encourage senators to probe "second-and-third-level questions" about the details of such plans in the closed-door session.

Tuesday's meeting will focus on who is covered, what benefits will be offered and what is necessary to help the uninsured. The committee will also examine ways to expand Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program coverage (Norman, CQ HealthBeat, 5/4). BNA reports that the issue of whether to include a public plan in health care reform legislation has become a "hot-button issue" in the debate (BNA, 5/5). While Republicans are resistant to the idea of a public plan, Democrats say the option is a necessary component of expanding coverage to the uninsured, CQ HealthBeat reports (CQ HealthBeat, 5/4). Baucus said that the committee plans to have an in-depth discussion to "get at the assumptions behind the proposal and find some commonality," adding that "otherwise it's going to be difficult to pass the Senate" (BNA, 5/5).

Baucus said he intends for the committee to consider health care reform legislation by mid-June. He and committee ranking member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) are scheduled to meet with President Obama on Wednesday to discuss health care reform, BNA reports (BNA, 5/5).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

© 2009 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.