Blog - House Health Care Reform Draft Bill 
House Health Care Reform Draft Bill
June 19, 2009 - by Donny Shaw
UPDATE: The House’s health care bill has been introduced you can read all about it and comment on it here:
H.R. 3200 – America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009
Today, the three House committees that have been working on a House version of a health care reform bill released a discussion draft version. Expectation was that the House bill would go further than either the Senate HELP or Senate Finance versions by including a robust public option, and that does in fact seem to be the case.
- House Health Care Reform Discussion Draft (852-page .pdf)
The Dow Jones Newswire has an initial report on what’s in it:
The plan would provide subsidies on a sliding scale for families up to 400% of the poverty-level, according to the outline. Those credits could be used to purchase insurance through a new government-run “exchange” that includes both private insurance and government plans.
The House proposal has huge implications for the insurance industry. Besides creating a new “public option” that would compete with private plans, it would cap out-of-pocket costs to policy-holders and prohibit insurers from denying coverage due to pre-existing conditions.
The draft outline released Friday by key House committees is conceptual in nature and leaves out many details, including a plan for how Congress would pay for the cost of program expansions.
Employers of all sizes would be affected by the House health-care blueprint. The plan would require firms to offer health insurance to their employees, or pay a fee of 8% of payroll, according to the outline. To avoid the fee, employer-sponsored health plans must meet minimum benefit and contribution requirements.
Individuals would be required by law to purchase health coverage, or pay a penalty of 2% of adjusted gross income above an unspecified level. The fee could be waived in cases of hardship.
UPDATE: Besides the legislative text they released earlier, the House Committee on Education and Labor has now released a slew of other informative documents:
The House Tri-Committee Health Reform Discussion Draft: Summary >>
What’s In the Health Care Reform Bill for You? >>
The Health Insurance Exchange >>
Shared Responsibility >>
Public Health Insurance Option >>
Guaranteed Benefits >>
Making Coverage Affordable >>
White House Statement on the House Discussion Draft for Health Care Reform >>
Education and Labor Chairman George Miller’s Statement >>
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Displaying 1-30 of 42 total comments.
No nationalized health care !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Look at the other countries that have tried this.
Yes. Please, look at other countries who were able to successfully implement public health and you'll find several key points:
1. They have far better healthcare outcomes than the USA
2. They have universal access to healthcare
3. Their healthcare costs are roughly half what ours are.
4. The citizens of the EU and UK pay far less than US citizens do in healthcare costs
5. The doctors of the UK and EU are actually allowed to practice medicine rather than be financial wizzes.
You are one of millions of Americans that are being mislead about nationalized health care.
Soylent green. Page 425 of the house bill.
"Yes. Please, look at other countries who were able to successfully implement public health and you'll find several key points:
1. They have far better healthcare outcomes than the USA
2. They have universal access to healthcare
3. Their healthcare costs are roughly half what ours are.
4. The citizens of the EU and UK pay far less than US citizens do in healthcare costs
5. The doctors of the UK and EU are actually allowed to practice medicine rather than be financial wizzes.
You are one of millions of Americans that are being mislead about nationalized health care. "
You are just plain stupid if you believe this! If you like that health care plan they have in the UK then go there but don't subject the rest of us to it.
European countries did not implement universal healthcare-most had it as a form of their government. These countries are also one one hundreth to one quarter our size so numbers for mortality etc can be misleading. Having been in the UK over the past year and friends in Canada I can tell you their system is not one we want to mirror. The wife of the executive I lived with spent hours on the phone tyring to get her son whom she thought might have strep in to a doctor- the quickest appointment was 2 weeks out! Bear in mind in Europe you can only use medical services in your immediate area. Her mother-in-law had waited 2 years for surgery. IN Canada if you are over 55 many services such as dialysis are not even available to you. Their taxes are high. The only good thing I did find was that EVERYONE had to pay something for care and those who could pay very little had no choices and very long waits.
Why don't you want everyone to have to same health coverage as you? Are you threatened in someway that others will have the same opportunity as you? Of course, initially there is no "perfect" plan or anything else; but there has to be a starting place. Start thinking for yourself and stop being influenced by people who way more money than you and way better health coverage!
I work in healthcare and I think that people do not understand the control that the insurance companies wield in the care that we receive. Talk about rationing--I have discharged people from the hospital that were in no way ready to leave-but their insurance company said it was time!!! Read the statistics about unneccessary surgeries being performed. IDo people not realize that we are paying for the uninsured everyday already?
The difference is that because these people do not have access to primary care they are flooding our emergency rooms, and they are coming in with advanced disease-which is much more expensive to treat than preventive or mainatenance care.
So please, get the facts before you complain.
My daughter actually lived in the UK over the past year with an extremely wealthy family. Contrary to what we are being feed. The mother was on the phone for most of a day trying to get her son in to see a doctor- quickest appointment was over 2 weeks out- not good when she thought he might have strep throat- their taxes are extremely high and they can only use the medical services in the immediate area of where they live. The friends she made who live in Canada and other parts of Europe voiced the same scenarios along with the fact that after age 55 many surgeries and even dialysis are not available.
The Tax base in other countries that have universal healthcare is far more than ours today even if you add in the amount that I pay out of pocket for my health care. When I hear Veterans and Native Americans standing up and bragging about their health care, then I will be for change in our system in the mean time I will be against nationalized health care.
I am a vet (USMC) and the care I have recieved from the VA has been great.
why don't you move to one of those countries since you feel their health system is so superior to ours?
If you like your current insurance then you will be able to keep it, along with your doctor..We currently have a system where you pay the insurance companies premiums for years and if you have a catastrophic illness and the cost of your care become they will drop you,they will increase the amount you will have to pay out of pocket.Check your policy and be sure to read the part about the life time cap.
It's people like you who don't know a thing about the options off a national healthcare plan who really scare me. I'm glad that reading is mandatory in school. READ the plan fool!
Moderated Comment
Yes! Please look at other countries and you'll find that their healthcare costs half what ours does, they have universal access to care, and they have far better outcomes than we have.
Don't be mislead by the propaganda spread by insurance companies. They are all lies! I lived and practiced medicine there for many years. I know.
Canada has done it and done it well. I seem to recall many Americans who were very supportive of this bill during the Bush years. Now that Obama is in office, he's doing what everyone wanted and now the people turn tail and protest it calling it socialism and nazism. I guess America still can't accept a black president after all.
"Individuals would be required by law to purchase health coverage, or pay a penalty of 2% of adjusted gross income above an unspecified level. The fee could be waived in cases of hardship."
Does this mean I forgo my freedom to choose whether I have insurance or not?
Our healthcare system is suffering from more than lack of reimbursement, which is what this bill is attempting to resolve. The entire system needs to be revamped from what kinds of physicians we put into practice, how we educate them, how to utilize specialties like Nurse Practitioners and PA's, how Primary Care is truely utilized, how everyone gets paid, and patient flow.
This bill misses the mark.
The actual mark is that other countries do not allow the frivilous lawsuits and giant payouts. They have higher taxes, can only use medical services in their neighborhoods, and EVERYONE must pay something for their care.
Tell me why I should help to pay for the healthcare of people who overeat, do not exercise, overweight, and practice risky behavior. Why punish me instead of those who don't care about their own health? People blame on everything else but being responsible.
Read the entire bill people. Senior Citizens are almost entirely denied health care. Over 50% of all the budget for this is being taken from senior citizens. And anyone with an incurable desease will be denied basic health care.
So if I'm reading this right, people with Dementia, CP, High grade cancer, ect... would be denied health care.
And this is another point I must be mistaken on. Every five years, if you don't have the government formed health insurance you are to be interviewed by a physician who will discuss with you to either switch over or ais society in shortening your life. I almost know I'm reading this wrong. Someone Google the report and read it please and help me understand. I think it's on pages 15 & 16.
Moderated Comment
It's on pages 425-430 and yes, they'll be asking you to deny food and water so you'll die sooner and cheaper.
Don't listen to the lies of the Republicans. The Obama plan is to be all inclusive. the Republicans are creating fear about euthenasia for elders , death because of pre-conditions.
Listen to the Obama plan from President Obama only. The Republicans are only trying to stop health care sothat the Insurance, Pharmaceuticals and Layers that protect them, stay in a rich business of ripping you off. The doctors wages go down and the average person gets reimbursed less and less..
The Republicans are creating smoke screens and trying anything to have this fail and bring the Obama Government come down.
You are closer to health care reform than any other time in history. Read the smart information.
I am an anonymous Canadian and I can clearly see that the Republicans are telling lies hand over fist to protect their white GOP mentality.
Moderated Comment
Okay so now the answer is whenever someone has a different opinion from Obama or the Democrats lets blame Republicans. i can't be that someone might make up their own mind. This is just getting ridiculous. Everything is blamed on the Republicans. Oh, and lets demonize the insurance companies. Does anyone even look into their medical claims? The cost of insurance is in control of doctors, pharmaceutical companies and the person receiving the health care. Yes, insurance companies help drive cost up, but they don't start it. .I'm tired of the Obama Administration using my money to back back his buddies that got him elected. Everyone sees what the Republicans are doing, and guess what, the Democrats do it too. Hopefully people stop believing everything Obama says and starts researching for themselves.
"Listen to the Obama plan from President Obama only."
LMAO! What? So conflicting views are prohibited? There is no room for debate? No room for Americans to discuss what they want from their government? The broken campaign promises are reason enough to take Obama's word with skepticism.
I'll listen to debate, form my own opinion, and though I won't always like it, I'll support what the public wants; THAT is democracy. What you propose is marching orders. You belong in a monarchy (if not a dictatorship) with your views.
You make it sound as if Obama is the only president to break a promise...It's politics my friend if you get even half of what you're promised, consider yourself blessed.
Read the bill before you make stupid statements. Obama only wants to provide healthcare to everyone at our expense to get re-elected again. And why not, they have a different healthcare program that's exempt from this bill.IF IT'S SO GREAT, THAN WHY EXEMPT ANYONE.
All I can say is "I want my money back, my freedom to make choices back!!!". I just hope that someone is able to fix this mess that Obama has made. He is on a spending spree. We need change, but not in the manner he is doing so. Way to much money and making too many changes too fast.
If AMERICANS want health care change, then we the people should have the vote on whether we want to spend more money on HIS health care plan. PUT THE REFORM FOR A VOTE BY THE PEOPLE. If we are to have govern run programs that are controlled by our government, then it is the right of the people to vote on it. Some elected Obama to run our government as well as those in the house, then let US vote on this too.