Henry B. Gonzalez
La Prensa de San Antonio
11-24-1996
Health care during the 104th congress.
By Henry B. Gonzlez
U.S. Representative, 20th Congressional District
Three years after President Clinton's effort to make sure that every American had access to adequate and affordable health care, forty million people in this country still do not have health insurance. The problem is especially bad in San Antonio, where almost a third of the non-retirement age population is uninsured. This is one of the highest rates of any big city anywhere in the United States.
Although no universal health care reform proposals were considered during the recently completed 104th Congress, the issue of health care was still prominent on the legislative agenda over the past two years. Some ideas were not passed, such as massive cuts in Medicare to pay for a budget plan that would have benefited mainly those who are already well-off, and a proposal that would have replaced the Medicaid program -- which provides medical care to those in need, particularly children and the elderly -- with a block grant.
There were, however, several health care measures that the last Congress did pass and that have been signed into law by the President. Although the changes are incremental, and won't address the health care problems of many Americans -- namely those who lack health insurance -- they are nonetheless important.
The most significant piece of legislation passed was the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (P.L. 104-191). This bill, known for its sponsors, Sens. Edward Kennedy and Nancy Kassebaum, allows people to keep their health insurance when they change or lose their jobs. It also reduces many of the current barriers to obtaining health coverage by limiting the ability of insurers to impose pre-existing condition exclusions for longer than 12 months, and by providing increased purchasing power to small businesses and individuals. The measure also sets up a pilot program for medical savings accounts to allow individuals with high deductible health insurance plans to set up a taxdeductible savings account for medical expenses.
A General Accounting Office report estimates that the bill, effective July 1, 1997, will help up to 25 million Americans annually.
A provision in this bill on mental health coverage that would have required insurers to offer comparable coverage for mental and physical illness was dropped. However, a modified version was included in the FY97 VA-HUD Appropriations Bill (P.L.104-204). This scaled down version requires group health insurance plans that cover mental illness to set the same annual lifetime benefits as they set for physical illness. The catch is that should insurers determine this provision increases premiums by 1 percent or more, they can opt out of this requirement.
Also included in the VA-HUD Appropriations bill was a provision to require health insurance plans to cover at least 48 hours of hospitalization for mothers and newborns after conventional deliveries and at least 96 hours of hospitalization after Cesarean sections.
Over the past several years, some have bragged about how they killed the effort to make sure that every American had health insurance. Never mind the fact that over 15 percent of Americans are uninsured. Never mind the fact that the United States ranks last among major industrialized nations in the health coverage of its own citizens. Just what is there to brag about?
Though not a panacea, the measures passed during this last Congress are an important step in the right direction. Still, much more needs to be done to guarantee health coverage for everyone in this country. The issue of health care will likely figure prominently again during the upcoming 105th Congress.
The integrity of Medicare is one such important health care issue that will need to be addressed. Other changes will also keep the issue of health care on the front burner, such as an increased need to address the problems of the medically uninsured as many people are kicked off welfare roles by welfare reform. You can be count on the fact that I will continue to do my part to make sure all Americans have access to affordable and adequate health care.
Ethnic NewsWatch SoftLine Information, Inc., Stamford, CT
La Prensa de San Antonio
11-24-1996
Health care during the 104th congress.
By Henry B. Gonzlez
U.S. Representative, 20th Congressional District
Three years after President Clinton's effort to make sure that every American had access to adequate and affordable health care, forty million people in this country still do not have health insurance. The problem is especially bad in San Antonio, where almost a third of the non-retirement age population is uninsured. This is one of the highest rates of any big city anywhere in the United States.
Although no universal health care reform proposals were considered during the recently completed 104th Congress, the issue of health care was still prominent on the legislative agenda over the past two years. Some ideas were not passed, such as massive cuts in Medicare to pay for a budget plan that would have benefited mainly those who are already well-off, and a proposal that would have replaced the Medicaid program -- which provides medical care to those in need, particularly children and the elderly -- with a block grant.
There were, however, several health care measures that the last Congress did pass and that have been signed into law by the President. Although the changes are incremental, and won't address the health care problems of many Americans -- namely those who lack health insurance -- they are nonetheless important.
The most significant piece of legislation passed was the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (P.L. 104-191). This bill, known for its sponsors, Sens. Edward Kennedy and Nancy Kassebaum, allows people to keep their health insurance when they change or lose their jobs. It also reduces many of the current barriers to obtaining health coverage by limiting the ability of insurers to impose pre-existing condition exclusions for longer than 12 months, and by providing increased purchasing power to small businesses and individuals. The measure also sets up a pilot program for medical savings accounts to allow individuals with high deductible health insurance plans to set up a taxdeductible savings account for medical expenses.
A General Accounting Office report estimates that the bill, effective July 1, 1997, will help up to 25 million Americans annually.
A provision in this bill on mental health coverage that would have required insurers to offer comparable coverage for mental and physical illness was dropped. However, a modified version was included in the FY97 VA-HUD Appropriations Bill (P.L.104-204). This scaled down version requires group health insurance plans that cover mental illness to set the same annual lifetime benefits as they set for physical illness. The catch is that should insurers determine this provision increases premiums by 1 percent or more, they can opt out of this requirement.
Also included in the VA-HUD Appropriations bill was a provision to require health insurance plans to cover at least 48 hours of hospitalization for mothers and newborns after conventional deliveries and at least 96 hours of hospitalization after Cesarean sections.
Over the past several years, some have bragged about how they killed the effort to make sure that every American had health insurance. Never mind the fact that over 15 percent of Americans are uninsured. Never mind the fact that the United States ranks last among major industrialized nations in the health coverage of its own citizens. Just what is there to brag about?
Though not a panacea, the measures passed during this last Congress are an important step in the right direction. Still, much more needs to be done to guarantee health coverage for everyone in this country. The issue of health care will likely figure prominently again during the upcoming 105th Congress.
The integrity of Medicare is one such important health care issue that will need to be addressed. Other changes will also keep the issue of health care on the front burner, such as an increased need to address the problems of the medically uninsured as many people are kicked off welfare roles by welfare reform. You can be count on the fact that I will continue to do my part to make sure all Americans have access to affordable and adequate health care.
Ethnic NewsWatch SoftLine Information, Inc., Stamford, CT
