MyDD :: Stop the Bill that Threatens Every American's Health Care

Stop the Bill that Threatens Every American's Health Care

by BringtheFight, Wed Apr 12, 2006 at 12:41:24 PM EST

Having had a Grandfather with diabetes, my ears perked up about a month ago when I heard that diabetes advocacy groups were lobbying against a recent bill sponsered by Sen. Enzi entitled the "Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act."

The bill seeks to make it more affordable for small businesses to offer insurance plans, but does so, in part, by essenitally gutting state requirements for what sort of treatments insurance companies are required to cover. Everything from treatment for diabetes to cancer screenings to coverage for contraceptives is at risk.

These state requirements were passed for important reasons. The legislatures and the people of these states have determined over many years that if insurance is going to be offered in their state, there are certain basic protections that states want to ensure all consumers have. To allow insurance companies to ignore these requirements in the name of health insurance "modernization" is ridiculous.

Susan Paynter had a great piece about this bill in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer last week.
Health Care Threatened for Most Needy

The "Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act" sounds like it will help more Americans get accessible health care coverage. But it actually would allow the health plans offered by small businesses to sidestep currently required health coverage in 46 states including ours. That's coverage that pays for diabetes treatment, testing and supplies.

The publication In These Times also had an article a couple weeks ago about current threats to the availability of contraception, and they cited the pending Enzi bill as a threat to the easy availability of contraception. Contraception in the Crosshairs

the U.S. Senate is currently considering the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act (HIMMAA), a bill introduced by Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) that would override state laws requiring health insurance companies to cover contraceptive costs.

To put it bluntly, this legislation is horrible. Horrible. It threatens the ability of American's to ensure that when they get insurance they are protected by laws which ensure that certain basic treatments they may one day need are covered.

Tags: Health Care, Health Insurance, Senator Enzi, HIMMA, Diabetes, Contraception, S 1955, Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act, HR 525, Congressional Black Caucus (all tags)

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Take Action (none / 0)

I encourage all members of MyDD to contact their Senators and urge them to oppose this legislation and help spread the word about the importance of stopping this mis-guided bill.
Contact Your Senator Here

Thanks for your support and for taking the time to read this diary.

by BringtheFight on Wed Apr 12, 2006 at 12:42:13 PM EST

Re: Stop the Bill that Threatens Every American's (none / 0)

It is another attempt to marginalize healthcare...

People who are vulnerable like the eldelry or sick get unaffordable healthcare or healthcare that does not cover critical needs

"There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be fixed by what is right about America"

by wesley on Wed Apr 12, 2006 at 12:52:28 PM EST

The AARP (none / 0)

Speaking of people who are the most vulnerable...the elderly

The AARP announced that it will officially oppose the Enzi legislation.

AARP Opposes Enzi Bill

This is very good news for the cause

"There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be fixed by what is right about America"

by wesley on Wed Apr 12, 2006 at 12:58:01 PM EST

Re: Stop the Bill that Threatens Every American's (none / 0)

The Enzi bill is expected to come up May 1-5. You can check rollcall.com daily for the senate schedule, hopefully Frist will notify them that this bill is coming to the floor.
The American Diabetes Association asks that all efforts go to defeating this one. The Durbin Lincoln bill is a better bill for e v e r y o n e. But defeationg the Enzi bill is paramount because it harms so many, junk plans for small business will not help the small business employee. The cost and poor coverage this bill would create are a nightmare for any and all people.

by caligirl on Wed Apr 12, 2006 at 03:11:32 PM EST

Re: Stop the Bill that Threatens Every American's (none / 0)

Hey thanks for the update, I didn't know that a date had been set yet to vote on the bill. However, this means we only have two more weeks to get the word out to our Senators. With the millions of Americans who have diabetes, I'd like to think we can win over some sympathetic Republican Senators, but we're going to have to do everything we can to let people know about it.

by BringtheFight on Wed Apr 12, 2006 at 03:14:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

It's a bipartisan bill, folks... (none / 0)

I actually mentioned this bill (S 1955) in a piece on March 14.

I put a question mark over the bill then (I'm not a healthcare expert!), but tagged it as yet another corporate welfare measure.

Let's just say, the more I find out about it, the less I like it.

There is certainly no way it should pass any time soon.

So - the old, old question: do Senate Dems have enough to deprive Frist of 60 on cloture?

There's one guy we know they can't count of: our old pal Ben Nelson. He's a cosponsor!

According to the press release linked in my earlier piece, the bill was reported out favorably (with an amendment in the form of a substitute) by 11-9 - I assume a party line vote, those being the numbers of GOP and Dems on the Health Committee.

(Amongst the Dem members is one of the Video Doctors' occasional Little Helpers, Bingaman of NM. No RINOs that I can see.)

If the committee Dems can hold solid, that's clearly a good sign for cloture.

On the other hand, if you consider the stampede of Dem senators to vote for cloture on the Medicare bill in 03, it gives you pause.

Seems like there's going to be a bunch of bills Frist is aiming to push through in that week - the 'death tax' repeal bill is also on his list.

I wonder what little diversion he's cooking up to divert lefty attention away from Capitol business...

NB - THOMAS shows no associated House bill; which, this late in the Congress, may make it difficult to get the legislation through if it's delayed at this stage.

A bit of hope there...

by skeptic06 on Wed Apr 12, 2006 at 04:13:53 PM EST

Re: It's a bipartisan bill, folks... (none / 0)

I feel a lot more confident about our chances of stopping this bill in the Senate than the House though, given the leadership/partisanship situation.

We should be bombarding Nelson's office encouraging him to drop his sponsorship of this. Additionally, one Senator to target is Mike Dewine. In committee he voted with the Democrats on a number of amendments, and only sided with the Republican majority for the final bill at the last minute. If we contact him a lot, we could perhaps sway his vote. Perhaps the Maine Senators (Snowe and Collins) should be targets as well?

by BringtheFight on Wed Apr 12, 2006 at 04:23:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's a bipartisan bill, folks... (none / 0)

It's worth a shot but highly unlikely that Nelson will change his mind. Frist as a doctor should understand the potential implications of this bill. Also, Senator Burns is a cosponsor and is in a hot water over the Abramoff scandal, maybe he can be pursuaded to change his position? This is a horrible bill that needs to be defeated.

by Pat Healy on Wed Apr 12, 2006 at 05:30:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's a bipartisan bill, folks... (none / 0)

HR 525 passed the House in July 2005. If Enzi passes, the two will be reconciled in a conference committee. If the Dems are smart, they will get a list of state mandates and will force the Repubs to vote down every single one. If nothing else, it will create some great political hay come election time.

by John Mills on Wed Apr 12, 2006 at 05:11:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The House vote on 525 is a MyDD rogues gallery! (none / 0)

The vote on passage was 263-165, with 36 Dems voting for the bill.

Among which were Bean, Cuellar, Ford, Harman, Mollahan and Moran, to name some old friends.

I count six CBC: Bishop, Davis of AL, Ford, Jackson-Lee, Thompson of MS, and Wynn.

The cosponsors list shows that Meeks and Towns, also CBC-ers, were on, but subsequently withdrew their names.

CBC not entirely a bunch of lefties...

by skeptic06 on Wed Apr 12, 2006 at 10:48:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It's a bipartisan bill, folks... (none / 0)

I agree but given the recent history of conference committees who knows what would happen? Plus, I hope it doesn't come down to relying on the bill being improved in a conference committee.

With more groups coming out against the bill and if everyone puts as much pressure as possible on some key Senators hopefully we can defeat this thing outright.

Plus, I wouldn't exactly call a bill bipartisn because Ben Nelson is on board, you can only be so much of a Democrat being from Nebraska.

by Pat Healy on Thu Apr 13, 2006 at 06:11:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

What about groups like AARP? (none / 0)

It strikes me (as someone who sucks at anything requiring organization!) that groups like the AARP, Planned Parenthood, NOW and many others should be banging the drum on this right now.

I've taken a cursory squint at the PP and AARP sites, and I could find nothing on the bill there. (On the PP site's press page, I got the feel of neglect: Alito seems to be presented as a current item!)

I couldn't start to think how you might gee these groups up to take effective action; probably, you couldn't in time for the Senate proceedings in the week of May (what with Easter and all).

If - and I think this must be right - it's going to be easier to stop the bill in the Senate, that means a failure this time could probably only be redeemed if a conference is necessary.

(I've no feel for whether the House will find the Senate bill as passed (if passed) acceptable. They often don't, of course.)

by skeptic06 on Wed Apr 12, 2006 at 04:37:41 PM EST

Lack of support for bill in surprising places... (none / 0)

I see from a comment upthread that the AARP is on board.

The Hill piece linked there carries the potentially vital information that a number of organizations you might have thought a priori would support the Enzi bill are currently sitting on their hands:

Health insurers are divided on the Enzi bill, however, and their two largest trade associations have been notably quiet. America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association have stopped short of endorsing or rebuking the bill and have continued to negotiate with Enzi and other senators.

Likewise, the National Governors Association and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners stood against the previous bills but so far have remained publicly neutral on Enzi's.

Seems to me that, for those who know what they're doing in organizing the lobbying of Congress (not me!), that constitutes an opportunity for opponents of the bill to insert wedges and make progress in unexpected places.

by skeptic06 on Wed Apr 12, 2006 at 06:57:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Stop the Bill (none / 0)

Yeah, this bill isn't one I'm a fan of. Besides the irony of a GOP'er overriding state rights on an issue this large, it's an absolute freebie to the insurance companies. It threatens coverage on any number of ailments, and really stands to drive the costs up of coverage for anyone with less than perfect health.

by TightentheBeltway on Wed Apr 12, 2006 at 04:55:59 PM EST

Yep (none / 0)

Insurance companies already do this too much. Personally, I have a near asymtomatic mild case of MS...however, to insure it stays that way I'm on drugs. However, just because insurance companies list those cute co-pays doesn't mean they honor it.

In many cases, expensive meds are sold seperately on coverage packages to lower employer costs. So you end up with the expensive meds not covered, and falling under major medical. So every year like clockwork, I can expect to eat the maximum out of pocket in the first couple of months.

Now imagine if they can pull this on a greater universe of drugs and services.

by ElitistJohn on Wed Apr 12, 2006 at 07:22:13 PM EST

Re: Stop the Bill that Threatens Every American's (none / 0)

Planned parenthood statement: The Lose Your Benefits Bill

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/pp2/por tal/media/pressreleases/pr-060315-himmaa .xml

by caligirl on Wed Apr 12, 2006 at 09:16:05 PM EST

Re: Stop the Bill that Threatens Every American's (none / 0)

http://vocusgr.vocus.com/grconvert1/webp ub/ana/Profile.asp?Entity=PRAsset&En tityID=1624&XSL=Asset&PublishTyp e=GR+Asset

The American Nurses Association has a terrific page on this. Lots of info, includes a long list of thsoe against the bill and very clearly articulated arguments of the damage this bill does.

I called the California Teachers Association governmental affairs division today. Hoping this gets forwarded to the National group as she said she would do. Just think school teachers would want to know this bill is coming down the pike soon.

The link to the ANA governmental affairs site has not always been reliable. So if you try it and don't get there do this instead, google ANA enzi bill and the link you want will be the 3rd one down.

by caligirl on Wed Apr 12, 2006 at 09:45:27 PM EST

Re: Stop the Bill that Threatens Every American's (none / 0)

The American Cancer Society has come out against the Enzi Bill.

It seems like Seantor Enzi and the Chamber of Commerce are the only people who like this bill

The Lincoln- Durbin Bill seems like a much better alternative and I don't see what objections Republicans could have DL Bill offers the exact same benefits to small businesses

BUT without stripping away all these protections

"There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be fixed by what is right about America"

by wesley on Thu Apr 13, 2006 at 11:40:45 AM EST

Re: Stop the Bill that Threatens Every American's (none / 0)

Is anyone other than the insurance industry actually FOR this bill?

Not that anyone else would have a reason to be for it. Just amazing that this has even a shred of support in Congress.

by TightentheBeltway on Thu Apr 13, 2006 at 04:46:14 PM EST

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