Friday
Dec112009
New HHS Report Gives GOP Ammo To Blast Senate Healthcare Bill
Friday, December 11, 2009 at 5:54PM
By Travis Martinez - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service
A new report issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has revealed that the Democratically-backed Senate health care bill would have a negative impact on the cost, accessibility and quality of the American health care system, according to Sen. Mike Johannns (R-Neb.).
“This is a roundhouse blow to the Senate health care bill,” said Johanns in a news conference Friday.
In response to a letter written by Johanns and other Republicans, Richard Foster, the Chief Actuary at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a branch of HHS, released a report which found that under the bill, the proposed reductions in Medicare payment updates for providers, the actions of the Independent Medicare Advisory Board and the excise tax on high-cost employer-sponsored health insurance would have significant downward impacts on future health care cost growth rates.
Johanns said that the White House has misleadingly used the report to garner support for the bill when in fact, he said, the report should be viewed as being damaging to the chances that legislation will pass.
Johanns read a key section of the report which states the following: “During 2010-2019, however, these effects would be outweighed by the increased costs associated with the expansions of health insurance coverage. Also, the longer-term viability of the Medicare update reductions is doubtful. Other provisions, such as comparative effectiveness research, are estimated to have relatively small effect on expenditure growth rates.”
Linda Douglass, Communications Director for the White House's Office of Health Reform, responded to Johanns' remarks on Friday, posting the following statement in defense of the bill to the White House's website: "They cherry-picked total expenditures at a singular, fixed point in time – ignoring the overall rate of cost growth, the impact on Medicare and America’s seniors, and the fact that millions of more Americans will be covered."
A new report issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has revealed that the Democratically-backed Senate health care bill would have a negative impact on the cost, accessibility and quality of the American health care system, according to Sen. Mike Johannns (R-Neb.).
“This is a roundhouse blow to the Senate health care bill,” said Johanns in a news conference Friday.
In response to a letter written by Johanns and other Republicans, Richard Foster, the Chief Actuary at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a branch of HHS, released a report which found that under the bill, the proposed reductions in Medicare payment updates for providers, the actions of the Independent Medicare Advisory Board and the excise tax on high-cost employer-sponsored health insurance would have significant downward impacts on future health care cost growth rates.
Johanns said that the White House has misleadingly used the report to garner support for the bill when in fact, he said, the report should be viewed as being damaging to the chances that legislation will pass.
Johanns read a key section of the report which states the following: “During 2010-2019, however, these effects would be outweighed by the increased costs associated with the expansions of health insurance coverage. Also, the longer-term viability of the Medicare update reductions is doubtful. Other provisions, such as comparative effectiveness research, are estimated to have relatively small effect on expenditure growth rates.”
Linda Douglass, Communications Director for the White House's Office of Health Reform, responded to Johanns' remarks on Friday, posting the following statement in defense of the bill to the White House's website: "They cherry-picked total expenditures at a singular, fixed point in time – ignoring the overall rate of cost growth, the impact on Medicare and America’s seniors, and the fact that millions of more Americans will be covered."
Boxer: America Is Taking Action On Climate Change
As leaders from across the world converge in Copenhagen for climate change talks, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) a lead proponent in climate change, explained Monday that America has been making changes that the rest of the world should follow.
“Take a look at America, because what you see, will please you,” Boxer said.
Boxer stressed in her remarks that America has stepped up their efforts from the state and local government fronts, to consumer and private sectors.
“A [California] 2006 law requires action to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020... The California Air Resources Board produced its first cap-and-trade blueprint,” said Boxer. “The actions by states are powerful evidence that our states are committed to participating in the clean energy transformation."
She also spoke on recent actions by the Obama Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency who released findings that confirmed global warming presents a danger to people and the environment.
"The Clean Air Act provides EPA with powerful tools for addressing greenhouse gases, and the Supreme Court found it is their responsibility," Boxer said. “The Obama Administration has done the right thing for the nation, for the planet and if you listen to our business community for the economy."
Boxer said she is deeply concerned that “Personal” events on climate change could “Get in the way of science”. She explained that nothing from the stolen emails in the “Climate Gate” saga has contradicted the overwhelming science.
“The science is clear, the challenge is real, and the time to act is now... Our nation will be a full participant in crafting a global solution to this global challenge,” Boxer said.