Health Care Reform Delayed: Congress Unlikely To Meet Obama's August Deadline

WASHINGTON — Top members of Congress say it's unlikely they will meet President Barack Obama's August deadline for a sweeping health care overhaul.

Lawmakers on Sunday said they will not rush on a health care overhaul that isn't even in final form yet.

The North Dakota senator in charge of the budget committee, Democrat Kent Conrad, says there's plenty of time for the overhaul while Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee says there's no rush.

Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan says Obama would be pleased with the progress toward overhaul, while budget committee ranking Republican Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire says it's "highly unlikely" that legislation would reach Obama's desk before recess because bills are still being drafted.

The lawmakers appeared on CNN's "State of the Union."

Comments

[Rick D.]

Weh it comes to congress, failure is not an option. It's a solution

[PaxEterna]

I wonder why Bill Gates doesn't step forward and lead the fight for Single Payer in the US?

[twogunmojo]

maybe he prefers his private insurance to the public plan...how about we wait and see how obama does at running gm before we let him in the operating room.....

[PaxEterna]

Since posting this story yesterday, HP has dropped Health Care as an issue from its front page, and buried this big yawn of a newsflash (who thought our Congress would get anything done on this issue anytime soon?) on the side bar of the politcs drop down.

We're done, folks, the media is going on vacation along with our so-called leaders.

[fcsakes]

Real reason: We need to give the lobbyists way more time to run deceptive ads and line the pockets of more lawmakers.

[njgal4obama]

These are exerpts from a book I found called "Don't Get Sick in America" by Daniel Schorr, with a Foreword by Senator Edward M. Kennedy.

Kennedy writes:

"Finally, we must begin to move now to establish a comprehensive national health insurance program, capable of bringing the same amount of high-quality helth care to every man, woman and child in the United States.

National health insurance is an idea whose time has been long in coming. Today, the United States is the only major industrial nation in the world that does not have a national health insurance service or a program of national health insurance. The first comprehensive cumpulsory national health insurance was enacted in Prussia (Iran) in 1854. Throughout the twentieth century, proposals have been periodically raised for an American program but never, until recently, with great chance of success...

...The need for comprehensive national health insurance and concomitant changes in the organization and delivery of health care in the United States is the single most improtant issue of health policy today. If we are to reach our goal of bringing adequate health care to all our citizens, we must have full and generous cooperation between Congress, the administration and the health profession. We already possess the knowledge and technology to achieve our goal.

Publication date of this book: 1970!!!!!

OK, CONGRESS, I THINK YOU'VE STALLED LONG ENOUGH!!!!!

[naschkatze]

Delay, drop, and begin anew.

[MakeAWish]

We all know, that most Democrats are nothing more than hot air and posturing and will succumb to the insurance lobbyists money and will. There will be no single payer public option.

Another option that could be an alternative, would to make a law that puts limitations on the insurance profiteering. A law that prohibits the taking and putting into their greedy pockets no more than 5% of every health care dollar, instead of the 20-25% that they now steal. Similar price controls should be put upon the drug companies.

Hospitals should also be required to reduce overhead. They could start by stopping the competition between hospitals. They are constantly building new, bigger and better facilities, competing for the latest technology, sometimes within a few miles of each other. This duplication, is partly to blame for the rising cost of hospitalization, for it is the consumer who is paying the bill. There should be better coordination and consolidation to help reduce cost.

[Jlong]

Better yet, take all the profit motive out of the insurance industry. Make them all non profits.

[Icantbelieveher]

The private insurance companies are losing money right and left right now -- with unemployment so high and people unable to pay for cobra. In 2011, they stand to go bankrupt because of the number of baby boomers that will be eligible for medicare. While insurance companies want a mandate that will net them 47 million new customers, that will never be able to pass. If nothing passes, we'll end up with single payer out of necessity, because private insurance won't be able to sustain their profits when no one can afford their premiums.

Just another example of greed destroying an entire industry. And these people profit off of people's health and lives! There is no way Americans will put up with any mandate without a good public option, I don't care how many senators insurance has bought off! The senate will see us take to the streets if they try to pull something like this!

Republicans want a mandate with subsidies for people who can't afford the sky-high premiums of private insurance. Private insurance has had the entire year to make a good faith gesture and lower their premiums and stop rescision (canceling policies when people get sick, they've in fact said they will not stop that practice). Why should we trust them for anything?

[Coinyer101]

Bluedogs ki lled healthcare reform. Moderates and centrists, with the help of right-wingers, will not allow real change. President Obama should have made certain that single-payer was at the table, for bargaining power, if nothing more. And even though a 'public option' is supported by 70%+ , single-payer had the support of 59% over a public option. This bill was doa , the moment they kept Sing-Pay from the discussions.

[dwmulenex]

so here it is: the politics of hopes meets the politics of nopes made by a politics of dopes, Conrad et. al. The test to Obama is very real; if he succumbs to those in his own party more interested in health lobby campaign contributions than serving the people who elected them, his presidency is effectively over. What good is a senate super majority of 60 if the President can'at give them the backbone to serve the people? What good is a Preseident who doesn't have the gumption to make his party toe the line when the moment comes? 2010 will be a disaster for Obama and the Democrats if they fail by dithering and compromising away the flagship piece of the Obama Presidency. More than 7 in 10 Americans want universal health coverage; can a democracy worth its name fail to deliver? I hope not.

[Pigeon2]

Link to your post please.."M­ore than 7 in 10 want Universal HC"

[quiviran]

This is good news. It means Congress is getting a clue that they can't get reelected with the crap they're putting together now. Better a delay than a bad plan that everybody in Washington claims as a success, but we all know to be a failure.

Start with the basic premise that health care is for everybody. Reject any plan that does not include everybody.

[PaxEterna]

We need a class action suit against the health insurance industry, just like we took on Tobacco.

Further, we need some elites of our own to lobby for SINGLE PAYER.

Finally we need to march on DC and take back the benefits WE GIVE CONGRESS, until they give us the same.

It's really that simple, and it's what democracy is about. The leaders won't do a thing to help the people until the people DEMAND THAT THEY DO SO.

[socalgal38]

I wholeheartedly agree!

The problem I am seeing is that not enough people are educated about this. Have you asked anyone in your neighborhood or even in your family what they thought about this health care reform? I have and found that most are not informed or even concerned about the issue. I was shocked, even my own daughter, who is extremely intelligent isn't concerned about it.

[PaxEterna]

Most people, young and old, are complacent until either the issue hits home or they wake up.

With rising unemployment (and virtually no safety net for workers like other civilized nations), there willl be more and more people unable not just to pay their mortgages, but also their health premiums if they have them, and if not, medical bills.

Who pays your daughter's insurance? does she understand the consequences to the national economy of employer-based health care? etc.

I suggest we all start sending IOUs to DC: for our taxes which clearly do not go to help the people (banks, yes, the people, no), our health care costs, our tuition debt etc.

No other civilized nation on this planet treats its citizenry so abominably as the once great nation of America does.

It doesn't matter what the target population is: vets, students, old people, middle class, etc. - we have failed our people miserably.

The only people thriving in this country are the corporate elites, and the politicians who cow-tow to them.

[twogunmojo]

like i said......­what makes you think that the government will be an better at taking care of you than private healthcare­....what is to prevent the government from denying your medical needs if you become to expensive.­..they can already stop your social security at anytime...­.

[dogisgreat]

Look at the record of private health insurance in this country. It is not good. Why should we be afraid to try something that just might work?

I wouldn't trade my government-run VA health care for private insurance. No way! My doctors don't get paid per procedure; they get paid a salary. i don't lose my coverage if I lose my job. I've never been denied health care for a pre-existing condition. My premiums won't be raised just because I get sick.

Corporate illness business is no way to keep a population healthy. It is a very expensive failure.

[twogunmojo]

you did not answer my question..­..

[Marcospinelli]

For those who argue against single payer universal health care (or any public option) because it will lead to rationing -- We already have rationed health care.

Most insurance plans max out a $1 million. Once you reach that limit, they don't pay anymore. A serious illness, a bout with cancer, a long term chronic condition, an accident -- $1 million dollars doesn't go very far.

That's rationed health care.

If your physician says you need an MRI, he will typically have to get pre-authorization from the insurance company to refer you. The insurance company may or may not go along with it.

That's rationed health care.

If you want chemical dependency treatment, they limit your number of inpatient days that they'll pay for.

That's rationed health care.

The reason insurance companies don't want to compete with a public option plan is that they're afraid that they can't compete with a non-profit. By "can't compete", I mean they can't sustain their obscene profit margins. I don't mind a company making an honest profit. I do mind an insurance company CEO taking home $100 million in salary and stock options.

[socalgal38]

Wow at a million, the insurance offered by my employer max out at 2,500, with a 1,500 deductable. As a single person living on my own with income of 8.00 an hr how do I come up with 1,500 deductable? I am not on any type of assistance, I could get rid of my 40 a month cell phone bill and my 40 a month internet the only extras I have to keep me connected to the outside world besides a job. Since they switched to the new tv system, I don't have that anymore.

Three yrs ago I lost two members of my family, mom from cancer, and a brother younger than me from complications of diabetes, I have diabetes and have not been able to see a doctor in 5 yrs. I am just another statistic out there struggling to stay alive.

[twogunmojo]

i noticed you did not answer my question..­..

[Marcospinelli]

In a democracy, we are the government.

I know it's hard to believe, given as how so many citizens allow their elected representatives to dictate to them rather than the other way around. But We The People are the bosses.

Democrats were elected to restore the Constitution, and have so far refused. It remains to be seen if the American people will insist.

[twogunmojo]

maybe if you quit confusing our constitutional representative republic for a democracy we might be able to get something done....

[GalapagosTortoise]

Why is Huffpost running an advertisement from an Avila University in "healthcare management"?

Who needs more of those? Their faces are filling the room at 106 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington D.C., fighting against healthcare for all Americans. While they kept single payer advocates out.

Can you help PBS identify any of these lobbyists in the photograph? -->

http://www.npr.org/news/specials/2009/hearing-pano/

[twogunmojo]

the same reason they run ads for gun courses...­its all about the money....

[ohmetoo]

There have been some excellent programs on PBS Frontline regarding Healthcare. A Swiss health care professional made an observation regarding Japan, Switzerland, Britain, and Germany and that is they have health care SYSTEMS. He then said what the US has in his opinion is a health care MARKET! Big difference that.

[LemonMeringue]

Too seldom is the distinction made between health care and health insurance.

The government is only thinking about health insurance.

We need to get rid of insurance and talk about health CARE.

[quiviran]

Exactly. The discussion is not about health care, it is about how to pay for it.

Everybody needs health care, nobody needs health insurance.

The inherent advantage to a public plan like single payer is that everybody is in a single risk pool. That means that, no matter how sick an individual happens to be, they only pay the average health care cost for the country. It also means no matter how healthy you are today, you don't pay for excess coverage out of fear you'll get sick tomorrow, you just pay the average. You are never in danger of not being able to pay for health care if you lose you job or work for a company that doesn't provide health insurance.

How funding to support the pool happens is a matter for discussion. That everybody should be in the pool is not. That a company could be rendered more profitable by excluding people from the pool is a crime..