The Power of A

The big health care news this morning is the preliminary financial analysis the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and Joint Taxation Committee (JTC) shared with the Senate Finance Committee.  In a letter to Chairman Baucus (D-MT), CBO Director Doug Elmendorf gave an estimate that the Senate Finance Committee’s health care proposal would cost $829 billion over 10 years, which is less than the House legislation and under the White House’s $900 billion limit.  The CBO and JTC also estimated the bill would cover 94% of citizens (91% of residents) and reduce the federal deficit by $81 billion in the first ten years, with additional savings in the subsequent 10 years.

While the financial estimate may boost passage of a comprehensive health care bill, especially the Finance Committee’s version, questions inside and outside Congress are still being debated on the merits of the Finance legislation.  Senate liberals are still concerned that the Finance bill will not have a robust public option, and they will likely fight for its inclusion on the Senate floor.  Liberals in both the House and Senate will also push for additional coverage in a final bill; the Finance proposal would leave almost 25 million Americans uninsured.

Outside of Congress, two key groups immediately expressed concern with the financial analysis.  Both hospital associations and insurance groups stated that the proposed cost of the bill and coverage would undermine their health reform agreements made with the White House and threatened to oppose the Finance legislation.  The Federation of American Hospitals argues that insuring only 94% of citizens and 91% of residents, and not the 97% and 94% the White House had promised, would leave hospitals with the cost of treating a large number of uninsured patients; this cost to hospitals would endanger the $155 billion the industry had promised to provide in health care savings over 10 years.  Insurance groups have also argued that the Finance bill lacks strong penalties for foregoing insurance, making it more likely individuals will pay a small penalty than buy insurance.  This, according to insurers, will weaken the insurance pools as the healthy will only seek insurance when ill.

Do you think the Finance language will be the Senate’s version of health care reform?

Quick Hits

House Democratic leadership outlines its public plan options, while members suggest additional alternatives… Leadership also looking ahead to a fight (subscription) with moderates over cost of health care bill… The Washington Post chart comparing the three major health care reform bills.