1. Your Comments: This Just In From Paula and Dan – Feinstein Warns Senate
2. Your Comments/Question Answered on Dental (Kind Of)
3. Your Comments/Question Answered on Maternity Benefits
4. Your Comments: Isn’t This Where Feinstein Was Headed?
5. Your Comments: A Lawyer Responds to Feinstein’s Proposal
6. Your Comments: Is it True that Obama Once Supported Single Payer?
7. Your Comments: A Doctor Weighs In On Our Direction
8. Your Comments: Theron Stands Up for the Public Option
9. Your Comments: A Petition from J
10. Your Comments: What’s Going On?
1. Your Comments: This Just In From Paula – Feinstein Warns Senate
Feinstein Warns Senate: If We Don’t Deliver on Health Care “We’ve Got A Problem.”
You gotta give the old girl credit once in a while...
2. Your Comments/Question Answered on Dental Coverage
Question:
“Perhaps it’s slipped through the cracks, but I’ve not seen a response on the issue of whether dental coverage belongs as part of the health care insurance debate.”
Sorry! I called Mike Graham, Managing Director of Governmental Affairs at the ADA (American Dental Association.) He said:
"The way Sen Reid, Baucus and Dodd put the two committee bills together allowed for stand-alone dental benefits in the exchange. A stand-alone dental plan means that if you are eligible to go into the exchange, then you can buy both health care insurance and a separate stand-alone dental benefit."
(Note: I subsequently received an interesting response on that and will share in a less packed newsletter.)
3. Your Comments: Question Answered on Maternity Benefits
I got a question about maternity coverage some time ago. I received only vague answers from the experts, so last week I asked Debbie Leveen to weigh in. She responded:
“Maternity benefits are mandatory as part of the "essential benefits" in both bills. However only the House clearly requires ALL insurance plans to conform to the new requirements within 5 years; with the Senate bill I need to get clarity on the extent of grandfathering-- indiv and small group plans have to conform but I'm not sure about the others--it's a little fuzzier, hence weaker.”
I'll send an email later this week with Debbie Leveen's new write-up of what's in the Senate. As always, it's excellent.
4. Your Comment/Article: Isn’t This Where Feinstein Was Headed?
Some rough consensus is emerging about the primacy of a regulatory authority if the public option is as weak as it looks now, but the public option isn't dead yet.
5. Your Comments: A Lawyer Weighs In On Feinstein’s Rate Authority
"Eva: As you know, I am in support of a rate authority in the event that a public option is not obtainable or not strong enough. What could the gang of 4 object to (in) the rate authority since the public sector would not be providing the insurance---I am sure Lieberman would come up with some other excuse to be against it.
"Two thoughts about what is proposed. I think the rate authority should have the right to go in and demand decreases, too. Their only authority should not be with respect to increase in premiums. I don't want to get into a situation where they bump up rates in anticiaption of the bill taking effect, and then we can't force them to decrease them (i.e. the credit card companies). Also, I think a national authority which regulates rates on a state by state basis makes most sense. Some states have much lower health care costs, and if we peg it to a national rate, it would probably be the higher end, not the lower end of the rates in the states."
6. Your Comments/Question Answered: Why Do People Keep Saying Obama Supported A Single Payer System?
My answer: Because of articles in mainstream publications such as this. So give them some credit; they’re at least partially right.
7. Your Comments: A Doctor Weighs In On Our Direction
I spoke with one of our East Bay Physicians who wants to make sure we follow up on Feinstein’s three-point plan, as outlined earlier (rate authority + capping of medical loss ratio + elimination of anti-trust exemption for insurers.) I’ll speak with her office on Monday and follow up with you later this week.
8. Your Comments: Feinstein 1200’er Theron Stands Up for the Public Option in “Inc.”
Here's the article, with a note from Theron:
"One part that did not make the cut because the reporter was looking for pithy sound bites was my description of my sister. Briefly, my sister has worked on a job for a long time that she hates and which numerous health related issue can be attributed to in one way or another... ulcers, colitis, etc., resulting in surgeries and discomfort of all kinds.... Why has she stayed in this job for well over 25 years that causes her health problems? Because they offer good medical coverage! True... How can someone be held hostage in an unfulfilling job, one that not only minimizes positive feelings on so many levels but also eliminates the possibility of having a happy productive employee enthusiastically contributing
My other sister has several ovarian cysts, a second occurrence. she will have them removed next month. she has decided to have a hysterectomy as well. why? because the company where she works will be shutting down in march. healthcare will cease and if the cysts reoccur later she is concerned she will not have sufficient - or any healthcare coverage (preexisting condition) to take care of it. Hence, hysterectomy while she has insurance that will pay for it. Wild, huh? Insane, immoral, outrageous...
One more part to this story, by the way. sister number one is against healthcare reform, sister number two is in favor. will take more time to discuss this part, but i have pitched numerous times to sister number two... Problem? She and her daughter (my niece) are Fox TV viewers."
9. Your Comments: A Petition From “J”
J asks that you sign here....
10. Your Comments: What’s Going On?
A simplified answer provided here.
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