Last night Harry Reid and Ben Nelson announced that they reached an agreement on the health care reform bill and Nelson will vote for the bill. The agreement has to do with the anti-abortion language in the bill. From a quick read of the amendment (read at the link) it appears that the new language allows states to pass laws to prevent public money for being used to cover abortion services in the health care exchange.
The new bill has been revealed this morning (warning: PDF). Here are the talking points on the new bill, as provided by Senate Democratic aides:
The manager’s amendment builds upon the strong bill we already have.
Protects our good coverage, cost, and affordability number
* Reduces Deficits — estimated to save over $130 billion first ten and roughly $650 billion second ten
* Expands Coverage — over 94 percent of Americans under 65 years of age, including over 31 million uninsured
* Reduces Costs — most Americans will see their health care costs reduced relative to projected levels
Makes health care more affordable for Americans by expanding small business tax credits
* $12 billion increase
* Begins in 2010
* Expands wage thresholds for tax credits
Demands greater accountability from insurance companies/ creates more choice and competition
* Medical Loss Ratio 85/80 percent — Insurance companies will be forced to spend more money on care and less money padding their bottom line.
* Starting immediately children cannot be denied health coverage due to pre-existing conditions
* Insurance companies who jack up their rates will be barred from competing in the exchange.
* Give patients the right to appeal to an independent board if an insurance company denies a coverage claim
* Health insurers will offer national plans to Americans under the supervision of the Office of Personnel Management, the same entity that oversees health plans for Members of Congress.
* Provides significant resources for Community Health Centers
Think Progress‘s Wonk Room (another must-read if you’re following the health care debate) weighs in on the manager’s amendment:
The new managers amendment to the merged Senate bill incorporates Sen. Bob Casey’s (D-PA) language strengthening the segregation of private and public funds and increasing federal support for adoptions, with a new provision that would allow states “to prohibit abortion coverage in qualified health plans offered through an Exchange in such State if such State enacts a law to provide for such prohibition” (page 38 of the amendment).
In other words, states can opt-out of abortion coverage that goes beyond the Hyde amendment. A state may also repeal the prohibition and allow plans in the exchange to offer abortion coverage, so long as those procedures are financed with private premiums.
In states that don’t prohibit abortion coverage within the exchange, federal dollars can only be used to pay for abortions when the pregnancy threatens the life of the mother or results from rape or incest; private premiums must be used to pay for any other type of abortion, including those for health reasons.
The managers amendment also gives state Commissions of Insurance the ability to audit insurers to ensure compliance with the segregation of funds in states where abortion is available, increases the Adoption Tax Credit and federal support for adoption.
Nelson also snagged some additional Medicaid funds for his state. This sounds like a good change to the bill for me considering the financial burden on the states right now:
Under the current merged legislation (the version unveiled on November 18th), the federal government fully finances care for the expanded population for two years and increases its matching funds (known as FMAP) thereafter. Page 98 of the managers amendment specifically identifies Nebraska for higher federal matching funds, fully funding its expansion for an additional year.