Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) finally released his long-awaited healthcare reform bill, which closely follows the framework he’d already outlined (see prior post).
But the big news was that the Congressional Budget Office said the bill “would result in a net reduction in federal budget deficits” through 2019. Total cost of the bill is estimated at $774 billion over 10 years — all of which and more is expected to be paid for through cost savings and taxes.
Matt Perry of Wachovia said the CBO scoring provides significant political momentum to the bill. Still, he has some doubts about the cost estimates, and CBO itself admits to certain caveats. Notes Perry:
The bill assumes that Medicare payments to doctors are cut by 25% in 2011. While this is written in current law, it seems unlikely to happen. Further, the excise tax on high cost plans is expected to provide over 25% of the bill’s funding and to grow by 10-15% per year. This is likely to be very unpopular with labor unions and with high cost states that would be hard hit by the tax.
CBO expects the bill to cover 29 million of the uninsured by 2019, leaving 25 million without coverage (a third of whom are illegal aliens). Basically, the percentage of uninsured (excluding illegal aliens) would fall to about 6% of the population from 17%.
And what about health insurance co-ops, which are included in the bill as an alternative to the controversial public option? Notes CBO:
The proposed co-ops had very little effect on the estimates of total enrollment in the exchanges or federal costs because, as they are described in the specifications, they seem unlikely to establish a significant market presence in many areas of the country or to noticeably affect federal subsidy payments.
That’s not the same as saying the co-op concept is a joke, but it’s pretty close. Furthermore, the bill doesn’t appear to do much to address the trend of rising healthcare costs.
All of which brings us to the bottom line on the Baucus bill. I give it a hearty “sigh.”
It’s good news for the 29 million additional people who will be able to get coverage through an expanded Medicaid program, Federal subsidies, state insurance exchanges and a reformed individual insurance market with community rating and guaranteed issue.
But without a strong public option to give consumers a choice beyond private health plans and without seriously addressing cost trends, this round of healthcare “reform” is really just an incremental step.
That’s not saying anything new. The nation has been incrementally increasing the role of government in healthcare and will continue to do so over time.
Last stop on this journey is either a single-payer system or a highly regulated public-private insurance market. A public plan would have gotten us a step closer to where we’re going anyway. But at least we’re heading in the right direction.
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Its time to re-examine instant citizenship (Anchor babies) which hasn’t been illuminated enough, to growing concern of the American public. For decades now pregnant women have arrived on tourist’s visas, through the fence and even at ports of call. Very aware of our mis-interpreted law governing “birthright citizenship”, that attributes full rights to the Mother of an illegal immigrant. How can Americans benefit from this Health care reform package, when we must subsidize millions of households and not just the original interloper? Outlined in the spring issue of the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons is an article that will stun a prudent person. An illegal alien entered the states in 1997 to work as a fruit picker, bringing with him his wife and three children; all illegal aliens.
The lady gave birth to a fourth child, and with that birth the family had an “anchor baby”—an American citizen by birth, who provided the entire family with a free pass to remain in the United States permanently and collect government, subsides. Unfortunately the baby was born prematurely, spent three months in the neonatal incubator, and cost the San Joaquin Hospital more than $300,000. Meanwhile, the oldest daughter married an illegal alien and gave birth to her own anchor baby, and then Cristobal’s wife gave birth to yet another baby. ALL PAID FOR BY—YOU!
This is just one taxpayer example of the ‘Rule of law’ that has cost taxpayers billions of dollars. A nurse admitted last weekend, according to Review-Journal reported that cash-strapped UMC hospital in Nevada is providing more than $20 million a year in emergency dialysis care for uninsured, illegal immigrants. Is American society insane when poverty stricken Americans are turned away, go bankrupt and sometimes die? TAXPAYERS ARE TAXED FOR THIS, BUT NOT FOR OUR OWN PEOPLE? We must insist that a Birthright Citizenship lawsuit be filed with the federal court and its original intent revisited? That E-Verify should be fully funded and a highly skilled MIT team, building on the original Immigration enforcement database to a highest level of security that cannot be compromised by the use of fraudulent documents.
The PC oriented application must be installed permanently on every business computer across this country? ICE should have the manpower to audit every workplace, with the power to arrest and detain employers who snub immigration laws? Repeat offenders should be dealt with harshly, including prison and confiscation of business assets. There should be no mitigating excuses because illegal immigrants are—STEALING JOBS– on any rung of the employment ladder? These employers for years have been an intended magnet for destitute labor in many cases, but have left the burden of paying for schooling for the children, health care and a veiled miscellaneous core of government handouts to US taxpayers. THIS IS NOT ABOUT RACISM, BUT AN ULTIMATE FINANCIAL MATTER OF SURVIVAL FOR US ALL! Coincidentally, I want a government health care, specially for some low income American family members.
Insist your politicians guarantee E-Verify is fully funded and is not scuttled by Sen. Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Janet Napolitano or any other high ranking Democrats. The Washington switchboard has their number at 202-224-3121. Research these laws, true facts and incredulous stats at NUMBERSUSA & JUDICIAL WATCH