President Barack Obama mentioned healthcare in his State of the Union speech Tuesday night, but it wasn't at the top of the list.
In a speech that had the tone of a pep rally, Obama tackled the healthcare reform issue – one of the more intense political battles in the nation's capital during the past two years – only after discussing the economy, education, clean energy, immigration and trade.
He tried to keep the lid on the kettle with a little jovial sarcasm. "Now, I’ve heard rumors that a few of you have some concerns about the new healthcare law," he began. "So let me be the first to say that anything can be improved. If you have ideas about how to improve this law by making care better or more affordable, I am eager to work with you."
[The president has said this before. See when.]
Obama called out the 1099 tax provision that both parties would like to see repealed from the Affordable Care Act. "We can start right now by correcting a flaw in the legislation that has placed an unnecessary bookkeeping burden on small businesses," he said. "What I’m not willing to do is go back to the days when insurance companies could deny someone coverage because of a pre-existing condition."
He urged bipartisan cooperation on healothcare reform in wake of the House GOP repeal of the ACA last week. "Instead of refighting the battles of the last two years, let’s fix what needs fixing and move forward," he said.
He named Medicare and Medicaid as "the single biggest contributor to our long-term deficit" and urged reductions in those programs, but not through repealing the ACA. "Health insurance reform will slow these rising costs, which is part of why nonpartisan economists have said that repealing the healthcare law would add a quarter of a trillion dollars to our deficit," he warned.
Obama named medical malpractice reform as a fertile area for reducing healthcare costs, and one that enjoys wide bipartisan support.
Reactions to the President's address were positive, albeit reserved on the part of Republicans.
Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) said a positive outcome of the 2010 election must be fiscal restraint. "That needs to include spending freezes, spending reductions and beefed-up efforts to stop fraud, waste and abuse of tax dollars," he said. "The renewed effort to pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution is very good news for taxpayers and goodgovernment. It should be accompanied by line-item veto authority for the President. Both measures would result in greater accountability in Washington."
"I am pleased President Obama is willing to look at our ideas to bring down healthcarecosts, including medical malpractice reform to rein in frivolous lawsuits," added Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.), who this week introduced the HEALTH Act, a bipartisan measure with provisions to address medical liability reform.
[Medical liability reform is in the hot seat. Read more.]
The Business Roundtable praised the President's call for "appropriate and balanced" implementation of healthcare reform in his speech. "As providers of health coverage to more than 35 million Americans, we are committed to providing affordable, quality healthcare to our employees. We remain focused on curbing rising costs, improving efficiency and ensuring continued quality to relieve the financial burdens on American families," the organization said.
“Since November, President Obama has taken important steps – including his recent order for a comprehensive regulatory review – signaling that he is ready to change direction and focus on what is necessary to drive a vigorous recovery with job opportunities for American workers. We look forward to continuing our work with the administration and Congress on policies that will make our nation more competitive, more innovative and more prosperous,” said Business Roundtable President John Engler.