Health Reform Progress Report

Catherine Knowles is C3′s new Director of Policy

The health care reform debate continues.  Last week, the Senate Finance Committee discussed Senator Baucus’s proposal and considered hundreds of amendments.  The Committee will hold a final vote on the proposed bill later this week.  This will allow the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) time to complete its analysis of the bill and provide a final cost estimate.  After the Finance Committee has approved the bill, it will be combined with the bill from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee before it is scheduled for a vote on the floor by the full Senate.

C3 has been closely following the various health reform proposals introduced in Congress, because access to care is critical to preventing, treating and beating colorectal cancer.  Please feel free to share your thoughts with us by leaving comments below.

Continue reading for more information on some of the amendments adopted by the Senate Finance Committee that C3 thinks are important for people living with colorectal cancer.

C3 was pleased to see that the Senate Finance Committee made significant changes to the health reform overhaul package it considered that will make health care more affordable and accessible.

Sen. Cantwell (D-WA) sponsored an amendment that will let states create low-cost health insurance plans for low-income families.  The amendment is designed to encourage states to enact a program mirroring the Washington State Basic Health plan.  It will allow states to put people making more than 133 percent of the federal poverty level (the upper threshold for Medicaid in the mark) and less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level (approximately $44,000 for a family of four) in a state-based government plan.  The amendment provides a federally funded, non-Medicaid, state plan which combines the innovation and quality of private sector competition with the purchasing power of the states.  It passed 12-11.  This amendment would help expand coverage to people who currently cannot afford insurance.  And without insurance, people are less likely to be screened, let alone able to be treated for colorectal cancer.

The committee also adopted along party lines an amendment sponsored by Senate Finance Health Subcommittee Chairman Rockefeller (D-WV) regarding so-called “Cadillac” insurance policies – expensive policies with low deductibles, limited co-pays and extensive benefits.  Senator Baucus proposed taxing the insurers for plans that cost over $8,000 anually ($21,000 for a family) in order to help offset costs of coverage for the uninsured.  In addition, there is an underlying assumption that “Cadillac” policies encourage inappropriate over-use of medical care – and taxing these policies could help make them less attractive.   However, some of the committee were concerned that some consumers – people in high-risk jobs, or older Americans – have to spend that much for “Chevrolet” coverage.  They felt that the costs should be increased.  Under the Rockefeller amendment, the cost of the plans for retirees older than 55 and those in high-risk professions must total $9,850 for individuals and $26,000 for families before they are considered “Cadillac” and therefore taxable.  The threshold tops the amounts in the underlying proposed bill by $1,100 for individuals and $3,000 for families.

Colorectal cancer patients tend to be older – most people are diagnosed over age 50.  And the cost of insurance policies increases significantly as people age.  The Rockefeller amendment will increase affordability to policies for retirees over age 55.

The Rockefeller amendment also guarantees that the independent commission set up to find savings in Medicare cannot propose increases to Medicare premiums.  This will reassure Medicare recipients who are concerned about cuts in benefits accompanied by increases in premiums.

The Committee also addressed comparative effectiveness research.  Comparative effectiveness research (CER) compares treatments – for example, does ibuprofen, aspirin or acetaminophen work better for a headache?  Senator Baucus proposed the formation of a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) which would be responsible for coordinating CER data and communicating results with health care providers and the public.  Comparative effectiveness will help determine what therapies can be used to effectively treat those with colorectal cancer.  Any provisions related to comparative effectiveness research should be conducted through an open and transparent process involving all stakeholders, starting from the research planning stage.  During the Senate Finance Committee markup, Sen. Grassley (R-IA) sponsored an amendment designed to improve the PCORI governance of patient-centered outcomes research institute.  The amendment would not allow the Secretary of Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institutes of Health, and other high-ranking officials, including elected officials and appointees, from being board members of the institute.   It was agreed to by voice vote.  Ensuring that patient voices are represented and that politics is kept out of comparative effectiveness research is extremely important to ensuring that patients continue to have access to innovative and life-saving medical treatments.

You can read the entire text of the Senate Finance Committee bill as amended online.