A Historic Victory for Health Care Reform

Greetings! I wanted to take a minute and give you an update on the current status of health care reform in the Senate. But, before I begin, I want to commend you all for keeping the pressure on your Representatives and Senators to support a public health insurance option. It's important that your voice is heard during this critical debate about how to reform our broken health care system.

Today we took a monumental step in the fight for real health care reform. The Affordable Health Choices Act passed through the Senate Health Committee. I can't tell you how proud I am to be able to work with my colleagues on legislation that will literally affect the lives of millions of American families.

This bill will help rein in the runaway health care costs that are bankrupting families and businesses. It will give Americans the peace of mind of knowing that they are no longer one pink slip away from losing coverage. It will make it illegal for insurance companies to charge people more or turn them away just because they're sick or older. Combined with the work that is being done by the Senate Finance Committee, 97 percent of Americans will have coverage. People who like their current coverage will be able to keep it, and everyone will have more choices and access to affordable coverage, no matter their lot in life. And importantly, it includes a robust public option. This bill represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fix our broken health care system.

Two weeks ago, while traveling in Oregon, I held a town hall meeting with constituents in Hermiston, in the conservative eastern part of the state. Folks were concerned about a number of issues, ranging from climate legislation to immigration reform, but no issue was more prominent than health care. At that town hall, I decided to take an informal poll to see what people believed was the best way to fix our broken health care system. Overwhelmingly, those in attendance supported a health care plan that included both public and private options.

Providing a public health insurance option will reduce costs, create much needed competition and give Americans more health care choices. I know that the public health insurance option is at the center of the debate, but I also wanted to take a minute and talk about other important issues that we tackled in the HELP committee.

We can have the best health insurance options in the world and people still won't get needed care if we don't increase our supply of primary care physicians and nurses. The HELP bill strengthens our provider networks by establishing a loan repayment program for allied health professionals, nurses, pediatric subspecialists, and providers of mental and behavioral health services for children. We worked to increase funding for the National Health Service Corps which provides scholarships to medical students who choose to work in areas facing doctor and nursing shortages.

The HELP plan also contains a major investment in increasing the number of nurse faculty nationwide. This is critically important because we face a looming nursing shortage. Besides providing loan repayment opportunities for nurses, we increased the amount of grants and loans nursing schools currently receive so they have the needed funds to compensate more nursing faculty members.

There are thousands of capable Americans who would pursue a degree in nursing if we had room in our schools for them. More instructors will mean more nurses, and as someone who's married to a nurse, I know firsthand how important nurses are to the quality of patient care. That's why I'm also working on an amendment to create a grant program to enhance nurse training programs.

I am also working to lower the cost of insurance for business owners. It's time to level the playing field for small business owners and give them the same health care choices that large corporations have. Because they don't have as many employees, they have little ability to negotiate lower rates. Since insurance premiums have skyrocketed in recent years, many small business owners are unable to afford the high cost of health insurance.

I introduced an amendment to the HELP bill which was passed by the committee. The legislation will enable small businesses to gain access to more affordable health care coverage for their employees by guaranteeing that businesses with 50 employees can participate in the newly created health insurance "gateway" or exchange. Employees will benefit by being able to choose from a variety of plans, and have peace of mind knowing they can keep their plan if they lose or change jobs. Allowing small business owners to buy into a larger risk pool which will help to improve quality and reduce overall costs.

Too many Americans who are uninsured or under-insured do not receive regular checkups because they can't afford coverage or their insurance doesn't cover enough of the costs. The lack of preventive care results in countless emergency room visits and health care disasters for families. The HELP bill includes a sustained national investment in prevention and public health programs and provides coverage of preventive services and the elimination of co-pays and deductibles for many vital health screenings. By elevating prevention efforts, we save billions of dollars while dramatically improving the health of the American people.

Over sixty years ago, President Harry Truman addressed Congress and said, "Millions of our citizens do not have a full measure of opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health care. Millions do not now have protection or security against the economic effects of sickness. The time has arrived for action to help them attain that opportunity and that protection."

As I look back at Truman's historic call for action, I'm reminded that we're facing our own pivotal moment in history. Twenty years from now we'll look back at this seminal opportunity and ask ourselves whether we rose to the challenge. We'll ask whether we stuck with the status quo: a health care system that drains wealth from our country and leave millions of Americans behind. Or, did we answer the overwhelming call of the American people to reform our health care system by improving care, lowering costs and making health care work for all Americans? History is watching - we need to make the right choice.

Follow Sen. Jeff Merkley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SenJeffMerkley

Comments

[brey66]

Sen. Merkley's statement, "It will make it illegal for insurance companies to charge people more or turn them away just because they're sick or older." Is quite simply NOT TRUE. The HELP bill in fact has age rating at 2:1 (See: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/martha-burk/aarps-bait-and-switch-on_b_235766.html)
We've heard that the Finance bill may have upwards of 5:1. This means that insurance companies will be able to charge you either twice the base rate or up to 5 times the base rate solely based upon age. (E.g., base rate = $200, an older person (age to be determined...) could be charged $400 under the HELP bill and $1000 under the possible Finance bill). This is age discrimination, and it remains the HELP bill. If you don't like it, call Senators on the HELP and Finance committees and tell them so.

[fboisseau]

Why can you guys not understand? When you rely on someone to provide you with things, you are a slave to the person or group of people. Why do you want to en-slave yourself to the government, just for the hope that they will put a bandaid on your boo boo.? I WANT THE CHOICE TO SELECT MY HEALTHCARE. This bill takes that away from me on page 16.
See with government health care and no other option you will have the following. You want to eat a pizza, forget it. You want a hamburger and fries, forget it. You want a case of beer, forget it. You want to split a bottle of wine with your friends, forget it. When they pay for your health care they have the right to tell you want to drink, eat, and everything else with body. You have Aid's they will make the decision if you get the expensive treatment or die. You have cancer they will make the decision if you get treatment or die. I would go on, but I have already argue this on my blog. http://fboisseau.wordpress.com/2009/07/16/one-payer-or-nationalize-health-care-does-not-make-since.

[bunnyv]

What on earth are you talking about? Out of all the countries that have public heath care, who dictates what people can eat? Do you really have that little confidence in our government and the people that this would actually take place? And as far as care being dictated, IT ALREADY IS!! By insurance companies. So, basically you are saying it's ok for people to die if they are poor and do not have insurance, or are not fortunate to have the right insurance.

[jmpurser]

Well then by your terms why do you chose to enslave yourself to your employer and/or your insurance company?

[Agent420]

What a crybaby.

[Not Blind]

The only true reform that would help all Americans is a single-payer health care system. This current bill is a pandering concession to the insurance companies. How can the government force people to buy insurance, when over 10% don't have jobs, and more are under-employed, barely able to pay for the basic necessities: food, rent, utilities, etc.? France and other nations have cadillac cradle-to-grave health care systems (including house visits, prescriptions, eye care, etc.) that cover all residents and costs less than half what we're currently paying. Those very wealthy who want more privileged care pay for it themselves, but the majority of their citizens have high-quality, accessible medical care at a fraction of the cost our system has. When critics try to scare us with "rationing," they fail to note that insurers already ration care. They deny coverage to those with pre-existing conditions or a propensity for an illness (based on family history). If these individuals can get coverage, it excludes those conditions, or premiums are in the stratosphere. Insurers give physicians incentives to delay or avoid costly (even if needed) medical care, and routinely deny claims for treatments they did not approve in advance. A healthy individual pays premiums for years, and once that person suffers a serious injury or illness, their coverage is dropped, or their premiums soar exponentially. This excludes the ill or infirm from necessary treatment, which is de-facto rationing.

[Guitanguran]

"France and other nations have cadillac cradle-to-grave health care systems..."

How do you explain French citizens purchasing private insurance? If its Cadillac and cradle to grave, why would they even need it? Why don't you ask one?

In terms of the rationing issue, let me suggest this: You have a company like UPS and then you have the US Postal Service. UPS doesn't always deliver on time, but is there any question as to how much more efficient it is than the Postal Service? When's the last time you heard of someone going "UPS"?

You can talk about the current rationing system all you want, but it won't hold a candle to what you'll get. Now, it will be for different reasons, but it will be much worse under a single payer fed system.

Besides, this is not about getting you better healthcare or cheaper healthcare or more equitable healthcare.

Its about controlling your healthcare and by extension, controlling you.

Its not about what you'll be getting, but what you'll be paying.

[jmpurser]

If there were any truth to your rant then Americans would live longer and be healthier than anyone else in the world. We're dead last in most categories among the developed nations.

[Agent420]

USPS is a private company.

[jmpurser]

Well said.

[Mabo]

No...we took a monumental step toward the government taking over yet another industry. Control, control, control...all under the guise of compassion. What a crock!

[Gudrun]

The wonderful free market has left millions out in the cold when it comes on the health care. Even those with insurance can be crippled by a major illness. What exactly is the insurance for?

[Mabo]

And you think that the government will be able to take care of everyone to the fullest without stealing more and more and more of our money that we earned? The false pretense of "free" healthcare for all does not justify thievery by our government. if this beast passes, you can watch that $250,000 tax increase threshold drop like a rock to hit those that this administration claims to want to help.

[expired]

Health Care: The Public Plan Option

These Democratic Senators have NOT agreed to support it:
Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)

Senator Tom Carper (D-DE)

Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA)

Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR)

Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL)

Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE)

Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA)

Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND)

Senator Max Baucus (D-MT)

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)

Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN)

Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR)

Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

These names are reported by The Hill here and here

Update: Senator Kay Hagan (D-NC) says she supports a public option.
Update: Senator Jeff Binghaman (D-NM) says he supports a public option.

You can also contact the White House and voice your opinion
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414

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On The Show
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Today's Hot Topics

•A study recommends banning smoking in the military
•The Sotomayor hearings continue
•Health care: A surtax for the rich?

Guests

•Slate.com Senior Editor and Newsweek Contributing Editor Dahlia Lithwick will discuss the Sotomayor confirmation hearings
•Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) is on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and questioned Sonia Sotomayor yesterday
•House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) will discuss the new health care bill out in the House

[Billl]

Current reform proposals that will force individuals and businesses to pay for expensive services are worse than no reforms at all.

Removing businesses requirements for being financially or otherwise involved in any way with health care, and using government’s advantages for lowering costs, is the way to bring rapid “game changing” innovations and reforms to a new public/private system for serving individuals and businesses and saving taxpayers billions.

Private pay private care could be kept by everyone who likes what they have.

Nobody can collect the money to pay for health care as cheaply as the government can through a national sales tax, and nobody can deliver high quality care and medications, free to everyone who asks for them, without requiring insurance, or co pays as cost effectively as the government can through government owned and operated hospitals, serving as the public portion of a public/private reform system, and that system would save hundreds of billions annually from the current $2.5trillion spent last year.

All government mandated programs could be distributed through government hospitals at a fraction of the costs spent now by taxpayers to private systems.

Young, old, rich, poor, and everyone would be assured that they could receive quality health care and medications free at public hospitals and clinics whenever they need it period.

[Liberal2]

I can't add any pressure, my rep. is a conservative rethug; my senior Sen. is a dino, and my jr. Sen. is a wannabe.

[Agent420]

Yes, you can pressure him, just tell him that if he does not support a single payer health system, you will fire him. I know you cannot personally fire him but if enough people told him that he would have to start believing it.

[arnray]

And, this morning, the alarm clock radio woke me up to a monumental song by Barry Manilow. And, for breakfast I had a monumental piece of toast with a monumental cup of lukewarm coffee. Then I went to my monumental part time hourly job with no benefits. And, for lunch, I intend to have a monumental peanut butter sandwich followed by a monumental apple. Congress can kiss my monumental ar$e.

[DallasMike]

If this health care plan is so great then why wont Congress and the POTUS join the plan?

[Chaimirija]

I skimmed it yesterday, will read reast today...it isn't that great.....and there is no choice...you MAY be eligible for the public option, but you MUST pay for insurance or get fined by the IRS...plus, it won't be available til 2013? I think, it is SO convoluted...it seems the individual mandate is next year///not sure


anyway, i think it stinks

[Agent420]

Simply because it fell from the south end of a north facing bull.

[Annette truth teller08]

Thanks and good job Senator.

[Chaimirija]

read the bill

[mountclemens]

a SNOW JOB in July.

Each senator from that committee comes to HuffPost one and two at a time and puts a different spin on this same crap.

We need single-payer, like Medicare For All. Don't believe politicians' lies against Medicare, etc.

[jmpurser]

Agreed

[GrammyP]

Absolutely.

[bnimble]

PARROT POINT #4:

15 years ago private insurance paid 95 cents of every premium dollar collected in claims.
Today private insurance pays 80 cents of every premium dollar in claims.

[bnimble]

PARROT POINT # 3:

Private insurance co's are terrified of the public option because It already exists and it works so well..... it is called Medicare.

[Guitanguran]

And Medicare is headed for insolvency for what reason?

Just askin'

[bnimble]

PARROT POINT #2:

If a private insurance pays 79 cents of every dollar in claims their stock will get CRUSHED.

[bnimble]

PARROT POINT #1

Medicare has a 3 percent administrative overhead.
Private insurance has a 20-34 percent administrative overhead.

Insurance is afraid of the public option because it works.