THE DAILY DOSE: THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2010

Health Reform in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Committee on Ways and Means Committee on Education and Labor

Fact of the Day The health insurance reform legislation gives the HHS Secretary or a State the ability to prohibit any insurer that excessively raised premiums prior to 2014, from selling health plans in the State’s Exchange market.

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Health Resources Majority Leader Clearinghouse HealthReform.gov MedPAC Alliance for Health Reform National Health Policy Forum Kaiser Family Foundation Families USA Commonwealth Fund Robert Wood Johnson Foundation RAND Health Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Partnership for Prevention Trust for America's Health Synthesis Project

At the Time This Daily Dose Was Sent, Insured Americans Had Paid a “Hidden Tax” of $53,187,604,686 since January 1, 2009 in Additional Premium Costs to Cover Care for the Uninsured.

Under the Microscope

HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM EXPECTED TO BE PASSED WITH FINAL VOTE TODAY

Early this morning, the Senate made a minor technical change to the education portion of the health reform improvements bill that necessitates a second vote by the House. The Senate then moved forward in passing the bill, 56-43 just after 2:10 p.m., and the House will take up the amended measure later this evening.  The changed provisions will not impact the reforms to the student loan programs, the investments in education, or the health insurance reform bill. The bill is expected to be passed and sent to the President to be signed into law, concluding Congress’ consideration of health reform legislation.

Shortly after the Senate voted this afternoon the President spoke in Iowa City, Iowa, on how health insurance reform will lower costs for small businesses and American families and give them more control over their health care. President Obama first announced his health care plan in Iowa City in May 2007, launching a grassroots campaign for reform that led directly to the legislation passed this week.

Also today, the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight, during questioning of IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman, debunked a number of myths from Republican Members of Congress suggesting that health insurance reform would mean the hiring of thousands of new IRS employees or that the agency would assume a burdensome relationship with taxpayers.

Watch the video or read the transcript from today’s hearing debunking the myths.

Health Care Headlines

Senate Passes Reconciliation Bill
The Senate just passed the reconciliation bill 56 to 43. [Politico, 3/25/2010]

Reconciliation Must Return to House
Senate Republicans have succeeded in forcing Democrats to send the health reform reconciliation bill back to the House for another vote, after Senate parliamentarian Alan Frumin ruled early Thursday morning that two minor provisions violated the chamber's rules and couldn’t be included in the final bill. [Politico, 3/25/2010]

Obama Returning to Iowa City to Pitch Benefits of Health-Care Law
President Obama will return Thursday to the place where he first called for health-care legislation, aiming now to convince Americans of the benefits of the measure he just signed into law. [Washington Post, 3/25/2010]

Democrats Promote Overhaul’s Benefits to Older Americans
As Senate Republicans attack Democrats over proposed cuts in Medicare spending in the big health care legislation, Democrats on Wednesday sought to highlight some immediate benefits for Medicare beneficiaries. [New York Times, 3/23/2010]

A New Long-Term Care Insurance Program
I’ve read so little about the Class Act in recent weeks that when President Obama signed the health care bill yesterday, surrounded by a gaggle of happy Democrats, I had to call the National Council on Aging to reassure myself that yes, this often overlooked but potentially transformational program remained part of the package. [New York Times, 3/24/2010]

Funds Double for Health Clinics
Federally funded health clinics are set to play an even larger role in the revamped health-care landscape, which expands Medicaid and other insurance coverage and sharply increases funding for the clinics.
[Wall Street Journal, 3/25/2010]