The Senate Committee on Finance has jurisdiction over the Medicare and Medicaid programs as well as federal tax policy, and thus exerts a great impact on our health care system. Over the past three weeks the Committee has released three options papers on the following topics:
- Transforming the Health Care Delivery System
- Expanding Health Care Coverage
- Financing Comprehensive Health Care Reform
Each of these options papers may be reviewed on the Senate Finance Committee's website.
As an active member of the Alliance of Specialty Medicine, whose mission is to develop sound federal health care policy that fosters patient access to the highest quality specialty care and improves timely access to high quality medical care for all Americans, the Heart Rhythm Society is working with specialty medicine to analyze the impact of each of these options papers and submit detailed comments to the committee outlining any concerns or suggestions.
The Alliance of Specialty Medicine sent a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chaiman Max Baucus (D-MT) and its Ranking Member Charles Grassley (R- IA) commenting the proposed health care delivery system reform options outlined in the first option paper. Read the Alliance's comments (PDF, 200K)
The Society is currently reviewing the other two options papers, including the final one that was made public on May 18, 2009, “Financing Comprehensive Health Care Reform: Proposed Health System Savings and Revenue Option.”
The other committee in the United States Senate with health jurisdiction is the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), chaired by Sen. Edward Kennedy [D-MA]. This committee has jurisdiction over public health, which encompasses much of the federal investment in health research (NIH), prevention (CDC), etc., private insurance mandates (HIPAA) and the laws governing self-insured employer health plans (ERISA).
While the HELP Committee is working with the Finance Committee, it is especially focused on physician workforce, delivery system reform, prevention/public health and long-term services support for individuals with disabilities. The committee reported last week that they plan to have a “discussion draft” available in the next several weeks for reaction and comment, but stressed that this will be a work in progress.
The U.S. House of Representatives has three committees with healthcare jurisdiction:
- Ways and Means
- Energy and Commerce
- Education and Labor
These three committee have not released anything publicly, but are expected to work together on a product that will be considered by the full House before this fall.
