The Power of A

Last night the President spoke before a joint session of Congress, outlining his goals for comprehensive health care reform and spurring Congress to act and give him a bill to sign before the end of the year.

The speech (seen here) urged Congress to act this year and not delay in offering him legislation to sign, even invoking the efforts of the late-Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) to pass comprehensive reform.  The president also addressed some of the topics that had been debated in the August town hall meetings, including end-of-life counseling and illegal immigration, and offered Republicans the opportunity to work with the administration on the reform efforts.  However, he also stated his administration would not accept delays and would “call out” anyone who attempted to intentionally distort his legislation.

You can view analysis and in-depth summaries of the speech itself from Politico, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal, but the president did give some specifics on what a bill he supports would contain.  They include:

-          A price tag around $900 billion that would not add to the deficit in the near- or long-term.

-          An alternative insurance offering to the currently uninsured that would compete with private insurance companies.  This plan could be a government-run public option or government supported cooperatives, but it would only be open to the uninsured and would be nonprofit.

-          Elimination of exclusions for preexisting conditions and a cap on out-of-pocket medical expenses for individuals.  Insurance companies would also be prohibited from dropping individual coverage except in cases of fraud.

-          An individual mandate to have insurance or pay a penalty.

-          State-based testing of medical malpractice reforms, borrowed from the previous administration.

-          Tax credits to small businesses to provide help provide insurance to employees.

-          Creation of a national “high risk” pool for individuals with preexisting conditions that would cover the gap between passage of the health care bill and implementation.

-          Creation of insurance Exchanges that allows low-income individuals and small businesses to “shop” for affordable insurance plans.

What are your thoughts on the president’s speech?

Quick Hits

The text of the Republican response to the speech by Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA)… The text of the letter sent by Senator Kennedy to the President referenced in the speech… Senate Finance Chair Max Baucus sets the first health care bill hearing the week of September 21… The American Clinical Laboratory Association and medical laboratories meet with (subscription) Senate Finance staff on the new fee targeting them in the health care bill.