Health Care Reform Stalls Amid Abortion Coverage Concerns

Strategic Insights -

Senator George J. Mitchell, the majority leader, urged the nation's governors to push for meaningful health care reform, warning that states and businesses will continue to absorb increasing health care costs unless Congress acts. However, a Clinton Administration official hinted at a potential compromise on the contentious issue of abortion coverage, sparking fresh debate among lawmakers and governors. The political obstacles to health care reform became clear as Republican senators voiced opposition to Democratic proposals that include requirements for employers to buy health insurance for their workers and the definition of a standard package of health benefits by the Federal Government.

Key Takeaways:

  • Senator George J. Mitchell expressed concerns about the difficulty of devising a coherent, sensible health plan that attracts enough support to pass the Senate, stating, "It's going to be exceedingly difficult."
  • The Clinton Administration official, Leon E. Panetta, hinted at a potential compromise on abortion coverage, saying that the Government should not "necessarily impose one approach or the other."
  • Governor Robert P. Casey of Pennsylvania argued that major Democratic proposals in Congress would lead to "a vast proliferation of abortion clinics in places where they are not located today."
  • The Senate Republican Policy Committee chairman, Senator Don Nickles, stated that most Republican senators oppose the definition of a standard package of health benefits by the Federal Government.
  • The National Governors' Association adopted a policy stating that there should be a standard package of benefits "comparable to those that are now provided by the most efficient and cost-effective health maintenance organizations."
  • Senator Mitchell warned that if health care reform is not enacted this year, "it is as close to a certainty as there can be in the legislative process that there will be a cap on Medicaid and Medicare enacted next year."
  • Governor Howard Dean of Vermont expressed concerns about a proposal by the House Ways and Means Committee that would create a new part of Medicare to provide health insurance to poor people and those who have no other source of coverage.
  • The governors opposition to features of Democratic proposals, including the House Ways and Means Committee proposal, was highlighted by Governor Dean's statement, "I have very grave concerns about a system that would put 40 percent of the total health budget under control of the Federal Government..."

Statistics:

  • 32 million elderly people and 4 million with disabilities are already covered by Medicare.
  • An estimated 90 million additional people would be eligible for the new Federal Medicare program if the House Ways and Means Committee proposal becomes law.
  • 40 percent of the total health budget would be under Federal control if the House Ways and Means Committee proposal becomes law.

Sources:

  • The New York Times: "Mitchell says Senate will not act on health reform without President's approval"
  • NBC News: "Meet the Press" interview with Leon E. Panetta
  • The New York Times: "Abortion becomes an issue in health care debate"
  • The New York Times: "Health Care Developments OVER THE WEEKEND"