Dr.Louie Armstrong of the Georgia Medical Society wishes the legislation included a public option, but he said he remains optimistic that the House’s version might be ….
From wowt.com
Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson will provide the 60th and final vote Democrats needed to pass health care reform.
The congressional budget office says it will expand health care coverage to 30 million Americans who need it, but the opposition fears the bill will do more harm than good.
Congressman Lee Terry, R-Nebraska, said Saturday the bill is all but certain to pass. “The hurdle that all of us thought was impossible was 60 votes for cloture in the Senate and now since Ben has committed to that it’s done. I can’t imagine how to stop this now.”
He said the House will be on board with anything the Senate approves despite his objections and those of other Republicans. Then, the president just needs to sign it into law.
“Change is never easy,” Nelson told reporters on Capitol Hill Saturday. “But change is what is necessary in America today and that’s why I intend to vote for cloture and vote for health care reform.”
Nelson had been the one senator in the way of the legislation’s passage, but told reporters his support comes after a compromise on one key issue. “I have fought hard to prevent tax dollars from being used to subsidize abortions. This is long standing…under the Hyde Amendment, I believe we have accomplished that goal.”
“I know this is hard for some of my colleagues to accept and I appreciate their right to disagree, but I would not have voted for this bill without these provisions.”
Terry is still concerned that while states can opt out of abortion coverage, language in the bill could still potentially allow residents of those opt-out states to contribute to abortions in other states through federal tax dollars.
“It’s not going to satisfy the pro-life people and frankly it still moves us in the direction of bureaucrats running health care,” Terry said. “It does nothing to control the costs of health care, to change our system in any way to reduce health care costs and that’s the ultimate issue.”
According to UNMC physician of internal medicine Dr. Thomas Tape, the bill is a good start. “There’s many economists in health care that feel if we don’t take action fairly soon that the whole system is going to implode.”
Dr. Tape said much of the 2,000-page piece of legislation is not controversial. “Things like improving the primary care work force, simplifying claims processing.”
President Obama praised the Senate’s accomplishment, which bans insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions, among other things.
“Insurance companies will now be prohibited from denying coverage to children immediately after this bill passes. There’s also explicit language in this bill that will protect a patient’s choice of doctor. It now appears the American people will have the bill they deserve on genuine reform to get the security to those who have health insurance and for those who do not.”
Some Republicans say there have been too many compromises to bring this bill to passage. Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina said, “You gotta commend Ben Nelson for playing ‘Price Is Right.’”
Nelson’s support garners $45 million in federal funding for Nebraska to cover Medicaid increases over the first decade.
“A number of states treated differently than other states, that’s what legislation is all about, compromise,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
.
The benefits, Terry said, won’t last. “Those will be limited and when those run out the state’s going to have to raise taxes.”
Terry had hoped the plan would be scrapped and bipartisan legislation could be worked out. “Even though there was a small bipartisan group in the Senate, this was never bipartisan in the house. It was, let’s ram it down their throats and then it quickly turned the Senate to let’s ram it down their throats. We’re gonna do it our way and we’re gonna get our 60 Democrats and hell with anyone else. And that’s exactly what happened.”
Republican Sen. Mike Johanns of Nebraska reiterated Saturday he will not approve the bill. In a statement, he said, “I think Nebraskans will find it heartbreaking that carve-outs for our state and insurance companies potentially put this terrible bill across the finish line.”
“The manager’s amendment does nothing to change the core of the bill, but apparently wins over the magic number of senators needed. The Medicare cuts will be devastating to Nebraskans and on all Americans who will lose access to care. The tax increases on individuals and small businesses are job-killers that will drag down our economy.”
With Nelson’s support, the Senate will likely pass the bill by Christmas.