Debate over reforming the nation's health care delivery system in an effort to expand coverage and lower costs reached a critical juncture in 2009. During the year, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate passed their respective version of health reform legislation. In January 2010, Republican Scott Brown’s surprise victory in Massachusetts cost the Democrats their filibuster-proof majority in the Senate and progress stalled. President Obama reiterated his call for health reform in his State of the Union address; however, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D- NV) have yet to develop a roadmap on how to achieve final legislative passage.

At this point, two options remain. The U.S. House could pass the Senate’s health reform bill along with a companion bill of fixes or pass a narrower bill that includes only the most popular provisions. There remains some belief that a more limited health reform bill could possibly garner support from Republicans.

On Jan. 4, President Obama encouraged Congress to complete health care reform, attempt negotiations with Republicans, review all of the various proposals “in a methodical way”, and continue the legislative process with greater transparency. In the meantime, the president urged Congress to enact a jobs bill before health care legislation is finalized to allow Americans time to understand what is included in the final health reform bill.

What's New

The Obama administration has released a new health reform proposal that is reminiscent of the U.S. Senate's already passed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. However, President Obama’s new plan would increase coverage subsidies, delay any tax on high-cost health plans until 2018, increase efforts to eliminate Medicare waste and fraud, allow the federal government to intervene in excessive private insurance premium rate hikes, and direct the federal government to pay for most of a deep expansion of Medicaid. The proposal, for which the White House could not yet provide a cost estimate, does not contain a government-sponsored insurance plan. This release comes as the President and Congress are scheduled to meet for a bipartisan health care summit, where the White House hopes the new proposal will bridge the partisan health care gap.

Listed below is the pertinent information to ensure MHA members remain informed and engaged in the health care reform activity in Washington, D.C.

Comparing the Plans

• AHA Health Reform Comparison (MHA-members only)
• Healthcare Association of New York State Health Reform Comparison (MHA-members only)

The Plans: U.S. Senate

• U.S. Senate Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - HR 3590
• U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) health reform plan (bill)
• U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) health reform plan (summary)
• Congressional Budget Office Report on HELP health reform plan
• Chairman Baucus Letter on Final CBO Score
• Chairman's mark - National Health Reform (bill)
• Chairman's mark - National Health Reform (summary)
• Sen. Max Baucus Proposal for National Health Care Reform
• Financing Comprehensive health Care Reform: Proposed Health System Savings and Revenue Options
• Expanding Health Care Coverage: Proposals to Provide Affordable Coverage to All Americans
• Transforming the Health Care Delivery System: Proposals to Improve Patient Care and Reduce Health Care Costs

• AHA Advocacy Alert - January 15, 2010 (MHA-members only)
• AHA Advocacy Alert - January 8, 2010 (MHA-members only)
• AHA Letter to House Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Reid (MHA-members only)
• AHA Comparison of Health Reform Plans - January 6, 2010 (MHA-members only)
• AHA Letter to Sen. Reid on H.R. 3590 - December 20, 2009 (MHA-members only)
• AHA Action Alert - December 11, 2009 (MHA-members only)
• AHA Action Alert - December 8, 2009 (MHA-members only)
• AHA Action Alert - December 3, 2009 (MHA-members only)
• AHA Legislative Advisory - November 24, 2009 (MHA-members only)
• AHA Action Alert - November 23, 2009 (MHA-members only)
• AHA Special Bulletin - November 18, 2009 (MHA-members only)
• AHA Legislative Advisory - November 16, 2009 (MHA-members only)
• AHA Action Alert - November 3, 2009 (MHA-members only)
• AHA Special Bulletin - October 29, 2009 (MHA-members only)
• AHA Special Bulletin - September 18, 2009 (MHA-members only)
• AHA National Health Reform Comparison Document
• AHA Advocacy Action Alert - July 28, 2009
• AHA Advocacy Action Alert - July 23, 2009
• AHA Legislative Advisory - July 16, 2009
• AHA Special Bulletin - July 14, 2009 (MHA-members only)
• AHA Special Bulletin - July 8, 2009 (MHA-members only)
• AHA, CHA, FAH Joint Statement on National Health Reform Agreement
• AHA Op Ed in the U.S. News and World Report - June 30, 2009
• AHA Member Advisory - June 16, 2009
• AHA comment letter on SFC Financing Comprehensive Health Care Reform: Proposed Health System Savings and Revenue Options
• AHA comment letter on SFC Expanding Health Care Coverage: Proposals to Provide Affordable Coverage to All Americans
• AHA comment letter on SFC Transforming the Health Care Delivery System: Proposals to Improve Patient Care and Reduce Health Care Costs
• Rep. Neal Opposition Letter to Speaker Pelosi - June 29, 2009

If you have any questions regarding the MHA's views on national health care reform, please contact Laura Appel, vice president, Federal Policy and Advocacy, at the MHA at (517) 703-8601.