Healthcare Hypocrites Prepare to Strike

While I think Republicans will have no success in repealing health care reform, because their repeal won’t get through the Senate, even if it does pass the House on January 12, which it probably will.  But the manner in which Republicans are approaching this reveals not only the depth if their hypocrisy, but also that were in for a highly unproductive two years.

Politico reported this afternoon that House Republicans will hold a vote on January 12th to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Democrats quickly accused the new majority of bringing the measure to the floor without allowing time for adequate debate or bipartisan negotiation. During a joint appearance on MSNBC’s Hardball this afternoon with Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA), Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) argued that Republicans will force the Congress to vote on repeal without first considering the consequences of completely eliminating the measure…

…Watch it:

 

Indeed, Democrats in the House held “79 bipartisan hearings and markups” since 2008, incorporated Republican amendments and posted the original House bill online for 30 days. Republicans, meanwhile, intend to post the repeal legislation tonight but have not announced any formal hearings or plans to bring Democrats into the process.

But throughout the 15-month health reform debate, the GOP repeatedly accused Democrats of ramming through the health care bill without going through a bipartisan process… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Think Progress>

The fact is, Republicans have still announced no plan with which to replace this one, and, given their propensity to institute death panels to oversee healthcare for the poor, the wisdom of Alan Grayson remains as to what they intend.

Since it’s been so long, here is a timeline:

More parts of the sweeping healthcare law passed in March 2010 take effect this month just as Republicans take over the House of Representatives vowing to dismantle the bill.

Any changes would require support from both the House and the Democrat-controlled Senate as well as President Barack Obama, who made the healthcare law a top domestic goal. The law aims to expand healthcare insurance to roughly 30 million Americans and imposes a host of new industry rules and taxes.

Democrats say elements starting in 2011, combined with other consumer protections that took effect last year, will boost support for the measure, although House Republicans will hold a vote on repeal this month.

Here are some of the law’s major provisions and when they were implemented or are set to take effect:

2010

Several consumer protection rules took effect in September, including allowing children to stay on their parents’ health insurance plan until age 26, banning lifetime coverage limits and ending denial of coverage for children because of pre-existing health conditions.

A temporary insurance program was created to help provide coverage to "high risk" patients with pre-existing conditions.

A phase-in of tax credits began for certain small businesses that provide health insurance to workers.

2011

Health insurance companies — which include Aetna Inc and WellPoint Inc — face new limits that call for at least 85 cents of every premium dollar to go toward medical costs, with 15 cents for overhead and salaries.

Small group or individual plans must spend at least 80 cents per dollar on care.

Drugmakers must offer a 50 percent discount on brand name drugs for elderly or disabled Americans enrolled in Medicare’s Part D prescription drug plans who also hit the so-called "doughnut hole" coverage gap. Generic drugs will also cost less.

2012

Private Medicare plans called Medicare Advantage will see lower government reimbursement payments. The plans can offer more benefits than traditional Medicare coverage but also can cost more.

To help pay for the overhaul, the pharmaceutical industry — including Pfizer Inc, Merck & Co Inc and other drugmakers — begin paying more than $2 billion a year in taxes… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Reuters>

As flawed as this bill was, it is still better than no reform at all and far better that the grim reaper we would face under Repiblicare, if there were such a thing.