Healthcare reform: can we all just pass something already?
Posted by Guest Blogger on Mon, Dec 07, 2009 @ 02:27 PM
By Joel A. Stettner, M.D.
Enacting a healthcare reform bill is obviously a very complicated, methodical and political process. Personally, I don't mind vigorous and open debate on legislation that has the potential to dramatically affect physicians, hospitals, insurers, and patients.
What I do mind is the inability of the House and Senate to find some middle ground and hammer out a bill. You know the drill: the Democrats, barely in charge based on votes, propose legislation - but not until many of the true reforms are removed to please the "Blue Dogs". However, that doesn't sit well with the liberals in the party, who balk at attempts to "gut" alternatives, such as a public option, out of the bill.
And then there are the Republicans - who give new meaning to the word "no". They're not budging - and they're not helping to reach the afore-mentioned middle ground. After all, the "base," or what's left of it, must be satisfied.
What's more, both parties are obligated to those many special interests that are able to buy access and peddle influence.
But now, AARP has re-entered the fray. Could this be the needed impetus to help the Democrats take advantage of their 60 seat majority in the Senate - and actually pass a bill?
According to this Associated Press article, last week the AARP "rode to the rescue" of Democrats, supporting $460 billion in Medicare cuts to help pay for health insurance legislation. AARP has played an influential role all year on health care, working with the Obama administration and Democratic congressional leaders to help pass legislation. Polls show them enjoying a large amount of trust among seniors - who tend to vote - which means their endorsement is highly regarded.
And so we wait - stuck in a political process that does not seem to change, with the concept of "bipartisanship" as elusive as ever. Lobbying reform apparently has had no real impact, and special interests, including AARP, continue to hinder meaningful reform while the number of uninsured Americans continues to climb.
Well, sooner or later something will happen. In the meantime, you might take a look at this article, which appears in HealthLeaders Media, which explains how we're going to pay for whatever is in the final bill.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.