WASHINGTON WIRE
March 25, 2009
Issue 195
Congress Outlines Budget Resolutions
Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Create National Long Term Care Insurance Program
Insurance Groups Write to Obama Opposing Public Plan
Top Story
Congress Outlines Budget Resolutions
This week, the Senate and House Budget Committees released details of their 2010 Budget Resolutions. The Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad's mark-up is a five-year spending plan, as opposed to the Administration's 10-year budget, that would narrow the deficit by two-thirds. But the Senate plan lacks a specified fund to match the healthcare reform fund of $634 billion in the President's budget.
House Budget Committee Chairman Representative John Spratt's (D-SC) mark, retained more of Obama's domestic spending than Conrad's plan. It would cut the President's discretionary spending by $7 billion, compared with$160 billion cut in discretionary spending in the Senate. This House plan also includes budget reconciliation for healthcare reform, a tactic that blocks Senate filibusters and allows legislation to be passed with 50 votes.
Health Care News
Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Create National Long Term Care Insurance Program
On Wednesday, March 25, Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Congressmen Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and John Dingell (D-MI) introduced the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act of 2009 that would create a voluntary insurance program for adults who become functionally disabled. The bill provides a cash benefit for long term care services and supports and helps beneficiaries continue to live and participate in their communities.
The national insurance program would be financed by voluntary payroll deductions. To qualify for benefits, individuals must be 18 years old and have contributed to the program at least 5 years. All working adults would be automatically enrolled in the program, unless they choose not to be.
Insurance Groups Write to Obama Opposing Public Plan
On Wednesday, March 25, Presidents of the America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) delivered to the Senate Finance and HELP Committees a letter declaring their opposition to a new, government-run health benefits program, a program that has been an integral part of the Administration's plan for healthcare reform. President Obama has said that if healthcare reform can have a adequate private solution, he would support it. But many Democratic leaders, include Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and patient advocates have strongly supported a public plan as part of the solution.
But the companies' leaders also offered to stop varying premiums based on health status if Congress mandates individual coverage. The companies had already said they would drop pre-existing condition exclusions in exchange for a mandate. Changing their premium policy might help the industry advocates allay concerns that without a public plan to offer competition, private insurance premiums would continue to rise and become unaffordable for many Americans.
Upcoming Events
Hearings
Tuesday, March 31
Health Insurance Industry
Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 253 Russell Bldg.
Health and Human Services Secretary
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
Full Committee Confirmation Hearing
10 a.m., 430 Dirksen Bldg.
Wednesday, April 1
Health and Human Services Secretary Nomination
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
Full Committee Markup
10 a.m., 430 Dirksen Bldg.
Health Care Delivery System Overhaul
House Ways and Means Committee
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 1100 Longworth Bldg.
Thursday, April 2
Health and Human Services Secretary
Senate Finance Committee
Full Committee Confirmation Hearing
10 a.m., 215 Dirksen Bldg.
Vocational Rehabilitation, Employment
House Veterans' Affairs - Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
1 p.m., 334 Cannon Bldg.
For More Information
For further information on any topics discussed or publications listed, or to get copies of anything mentioned in this alert, please call (202) 466-6550 and ask for the Legislative Practice Group.
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