The Senate Finance Committee has voted down an amendment to include a public health option in their healthcare overhaul bill. This is not the committee's only opportunity to include the public option, but it indicates that the staunch battle lines drawn over the issue are not softening.
According to the The Wall Street Journal, the panel voted 15-8 against an amendment introduced by Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.) to support a public health insurance option.
As negotiations continue in the committee, others may introduce similar amendments, or amendments slightly altered to gain more votes.
The Rockefeller amendment lost support because some Democrats and all of the Republicans on the committee are opposed to a government-run health insurance option that would be provided to roughly 5 percent of uninsured Americans. Rockefeller's amendment would pay physicians in a public option according to Medicare rates, currently under harsh criticism by the physician community for being too low.
The Senate Finance Committee is the only committee with jurisdiction over healthcare that has not yet passed a health reform bill, and the only committee that so far has not shown signs of supporting the public option, heavily favored by House Democrats and President Obama.
The public health option has been one of several major sticking points that have delayed the Senate Finance Committee in passing a bill. Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) has said from that beginning of negotiations on health reform that he and several key Democrats on the committee would not support a public plan option. Without their votes, Democrats on the committee cannot pass such a plan and a full Senate vote to pass the measure becomes more difficult.
Baucus has been criticized as one of the Congressman receiving the most funding from pharmaceutical companies and health insurance plans. Health insurance plans are opposed to a public option, saying it will threaten their market hold. Supporters of a public option say it will keep health plans "honest."
The Senate Finance Committee is currently debating a reform bill introduced by Baucus Sept. 18. According to Baucus, his $865 billion plan would lower healthcare costs, provide quality and reduce the federal deficit over 10 years.
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"America's Healthy Future Act," he said, would make it easier for families and small businesses to buy healthcare coverage, ensure Americans can choose to keep the healthcare coverage they have if they like it and slow the growth of healthcare costs over time. It would bar insurance companies from discriminating against people based on health status by denying coverage because of preexisting conditions or imposing annual caps or lifetime limits on coverage.
The bill would improve the way the healthcare system delivers care by improving efficiency, quality and coordination, Baucus said
Baucus was part of a bipartisan group of six senators who had worked over the past few months to design a bill that might gain support from Republicans. The bill left out the most contentious aspect of the Democrats' plan - a public health option. House Democrats - who have successfully passed a health reform option--have said a public option is "non-negotiable."
Baucus and some Senate Democrats have said they instead would only support non-profit organizations called "co-ops," which are part of the Baucus package.
The new bill must gain approval from the Senate Finance Committee before it can be melded with a House bill and one sponsored by the late Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) already passed by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
Observers expect some battles ahead as Congress strives to gain some Republican support for health reform bills on the table. President Obama has vowed to try and pass a health reform bill this year, and hopes to do so with some Republican support.