Some US Senators Block Consideration of Bill That Would Provide Medicaid Benefits to Hurricane Survivors, CongressDaily Reports
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chair Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.) and ranking member Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) on Monday unveiled bipartisan legislation that would federally fund hurricane survivors' private health insurance premiums for three months. The bill, which Kennedy's office said would cost $1 billion, also would locate and track survivors with disabilities and recruit additional health care workers to the impacted region (Crittenden, CQ Today, 9/26). The bill also would increase the number of sites where survivors can receive health care and would direct additional mental health care funding to the region (CongressDaily, 9/27). Under the measure, health insurers would be prevented from raising rates or canceling survivors' policies for three months. In addition, the bill would authorize spending for additional inspectors from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to monitor the safety of emergency and clean-up workers in the region (CQ Today, 9/26). The measure also includes initiatives to "cut red tape" that might slow federal agency relief efforts during public health emergencies by giving the federal government additional authority following natural disasters (CQ HealthBeat, 9/26). Enzi said, "One of the most important things Congress can do is to assure mothers and fathers that the health care needs of their families will be met -- and that their children will not have to go without or navigate through a complex bureaucracy to get the care they need" (CQ Today, 9/26). Republican Party Divided
In related news, President Bush and GOP leaders, "[p]rodded by conservatives, ... have said they are willing to offset [hurricane] costs with spending cuts," the Washington Post reports. However, unnamed House leadership aides and sources said the "political will does not exist to vote through the cuts that have been proposed," the Post reports. A Republican Study Committee report released last week lists proposed cuts totaling $509 billion, more than half of which come from health care programs for the poor. The proposed cuts have come at a time when eight charity hospitals in Louisiana have closed because of the hurricane, according to a House Republican leadership aide. The Post reports that the charity hospitals "were helping to keep people off Medicaid rolls" (Weisman, Washington Post, 9/27).
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Unele SUA senatorilor Block Examinarea Bill care sã asigure Medicaid Beneficii pentru a urma Hurricane, CongressDaily Rapoarte - Some US Senators Block Consideration of Bill That Would Provide Medicaid Benefits to Hurricane Survivors, CongressDaily Reports - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate