Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
After last week’s hyped, but ultimately inconsequential bipartisan health care summit, the Democrats begin the process of plotting their political and procedural strategy to move a health care reform bill. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi signaled that the House will propose a package of fixes to the Senate health care reform bill based on the President’s proposal and the topics discussed at the summit. She emphasized that the Senate would have to act first if Congress wants to pass a health care reform bill through the reconciliation process, a budget procedure that only requires a majority vote to pass. House and Senate Democrats still have some outstanding policy disagreements to work on, such as the tax on high-cost insurance plans. It is also not clear whether Speaker Pelosi has the votes needed for passage.
In his weekly address to Congress, President Obama indicated he is ready to move forward even without Republican support. He stated, “It is time for us to act. It is time for those of us in Washington to live up to our responsibilities to the American people and to future generations. So let’s get this done.”
As leadership works to find a pathway forward, the House may begin taking up single-issue bills. Closing the prescription doughnut hole, prohibiting health insurers from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions, and allowing young people to stay on their parents’ insurance plan are some of the policy options being floated.
This week in the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid will focus on a bill that extends COBRA benefits and provides an additional six months of Medicaid assistance to States. Additionally, the $150 billion legislation includes a tax extender package which contains a seven-month extension of Medicare physician payments. A 21 percent cut in Medicare payments is set to go into effect on March 1. Consequently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has instructed its contractors to hold claims containing services paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for the first 10 business days of March, as Congress works to implement an extension. Republicans are currently objecting to the bill because of its high price tag and the fact that it does not have a cost offset.
The House Education and Labor Committee holds its first hearing this year on reauthorizing child nutrition programs, which include WIC, the special nutrition program for women, infants and children, the school meals programs and special feeding programs for children and adults. The programs expire on Sept. 30thand Congress is expected to undertake a 5-year reauthorization. First Lady Michelle Obama considers the child nutrition programs key to her newly launched obesity initiative.
