March, 2009
Obama, Health-Care Players Agree to Seek Overhaul
President Stresses Need to Control Costs, Says He's
Willing to Compromise to Get Bill Done; Industry Pledges
By LAURA MECKLE, Wall Street Journal on Line,
March, 2009
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama
said Thursday that he would fight for an overhaul of the U.S. health-care system this year,
and legislators and lobbyists gathered at the White House promised to help.
Mr. Obama
hosted the White House Forum on Health Reform to help build momentum for
legislation that has evaded several of his predecessors. The president promised
to compromise to get a bill, and the afternoon was filled with vows to fix
problems that have long plagued the U.S. system, to work with people in the
other party, and to learn from past mistakes particularly those made by Bill
and Hillary Clinton when they tried for an overhaul in 1993-94 at the start of
his presidency.
Mr. Obama
made clear that he wants to help people with insurance today, and emphasized
his interest in controlling spiraling health-care costs. He spoke about the
need to cover the uninsured, but warned that it would break the bank to expand
coverage to millions more Americans if costs are not brought under control.
"We're here today to
discuss one of the greatest threats...and that's the exploding costs of health
care in America
today," he told some 150 attendees.
On Capitol Hill, leaders of the
Senate Finance Committee set out an aggressive schedule under which they hope
to bring bipartisan legislation to the floor by June. House leaders said they
want a floor vote by August, leaving time to reconcile the two chambers' bills
before year end.
The president made clear that
he will take on those who try to block his efforts, and blamed "special
interests" for killing past attempts. "Those who seek to block any
reform at any cost will not prevail this time around," he warned.
The very groups -- and in some
cases, the very people -- who were instrumental in blocking the Clinton plan
were at the White House on Thursday, vowing to make it happen this time around.
"You have our commitment
to play, to contribute and to help pass health-care reform this year,"
Karen Ignagni, president of America's
Health Insurance Plans, an industry lobby group, told the president.
More
·
Health Blog: Cut Costs or We 'Run Out of Money'
·
Obama's Speech: 'The status quo is
… not on the table.'
·
Downturn Hits Underinsured Families
·
Health Blog: Baucus Questions Health Plan
The afternoon included five
smaller group discussions, followed by a large meeting with Mr. Obama. At one of the smaller sessions, a White House
official addressed Chip Kahn, currently president of the Federation of American Hospital Systems. In 1993, Mr. Kahn
worked for the insurance lobby that sponsored the "Harry and Louise"
TV ads that helped defeat the Clinton
plan.
"Are you going to run an
ad? That's what we really want to know," Zeke Emanuel, a health-care
expert at the Office of Management and Budget, asked Mr. Kahn.
Mr. Kahn, who has spoken in
favor of an overhaul this year, replied that he realizes that hospitals will
see some reduced payments. "We're ready to do that as long as it's fair
and reasonable," he said. Despite the warm words, it was clear that
difficult work remains. In one session, Democratic and Republican House leaders
spoke of producing a bipartisan bill. Yet they were unable to come to agreement
on legislation renewing the Children's Health Insurance Program, a considerably
more modest effort.
"From our breakout
session, you'd probably get the idea that it's pretty easy to get done,"
said Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican on the Finance
Committee, who will work to write a bill with the committee's Democratic
chairman. "We know it's very difficult to get done. But without that sort of
feeling starting out, nothing would get done."
Overall, the White House
sessions were designed to show a variety of lessons learned in the 16 years
since the Clinton
effort. The sessions were held in public view, unlike the Clinton planning, which was criticized for
being too secretive. The White House is sending Congress guidelines rather than
fully developed legislation, hoping for more congressional commitment. And Mr. Obama is promising to be flexible.
"I just want to figure out
what works," the president said, saying he is open to various combinations
of government and private-sector involvement.
Mr. Obama
appears to have learned another lesson from the Clinton administration's failed attempt. He
is overtly working to appeal to those who already have insurance by emphasizing
the cost-cutting goals.
Experts on the federal budget
and many U.S.
businesses agree that the country's long-term fiscal health depends on
controlling health-care costs. But the focus on costs is also being driven by
politics. Especially during a recession, it is easier to make the case for a
program that would reduce the cost of care than for one that would increase
costs by providing new subsidies to help the uninsured buy coverage.
The health plan that Mr. Obama had proposed as a presidential candidate, which is
similar to ideas under consideration in Congress, is expected to cost more than
$1 trillion over 10 years. That money would cover tax credits to help families
and small businesses afford premiums.
Results of a Wall Street
Journal/NBC News poll released this week bear out his approach: More people are
more interested in reducing costs than expanding coverage. And while 49% said
they would be willing to pay higher taxes so everyone could have health insurance, that is down from the 66% who said the same in
March 1993, when Mr. Clinton was embarking on his ultimately unsuccessful
effort.
The day's emotional high came
near the end, when Sen. Ted Kennedy (D., Mass.), who has been fighting brain
cancer, appeared at the closing session to an ovation from the group. He has
long been working for universal health-care coverage.
"I look forward to being a
foot soldier in this undertaking," he said. "And this time, we will
not fail." http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123627593496542123.html