We Can Improve It

The Senate Finance Committee bill represents a historic step toward comprehensive health reform but it is a long way from the definitive product.

The committee accomplished government affordability at some level, but has a way to go on making insurance as accessible and affordable as possible for many people that have or will get coverage under the bill. They also did not achieve near universal coverage; an essential step to improving care for all and getting costs under control. This lack of universality and residual concerns about affordability are two major areas that must be improved upon in the final combined Senate bill. Capping premiums and cost sharing to 10 percent of income for those up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level; balancing the age rating system at no more than 2-to-1 to reduce the costs to those ages 50-65 while continuing to protect younger individuals; and adopting the actuarial value used in the Senate HELP Committee should help some. Adding a robust public option to ensure competition and further lower costs is also needed.

There are two important provisions in the Senate HELP Committee bill that must also be included in the combined Senate bill. They are needed to transform the system for the future, bring value and quality and help bend the cost curve. One provision is the Prevention and Public Health Investment fund that is needed to shift the system toward prevention and wellness, and the other one is the provision that address the primary care and public health workforce shortage.

The Senate Finance bill represents the last piece of the puzzle. Now Congress has to put it together in a way that gets the best product for the American people.

By Georges Benjamin  |  October 13, 2009; 5:17 PM ET  | Category:  Health Care Reform
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