LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY
IMS JOB BANK Senate Finance Committee releases health reform framework
September 09, 2009
The Senate Finance Committee has just released a document they are calling a bipartisan framework (PDF 307KB) for comprehensive health reform. The document is not legislative language but simply a summary of a plan for consideration by the Bipartisan Six who have been meeting all summer to discuss health reform. The document is far from a final product, and there will be changes made to it before Chairman Max Baucus releases his Chairman’s Mark sometime during the week of September 21. Unfortunately for Iowa, there is nothing in this package that addresses Medicare equity (which is addressed in the House bill). IMS has already been in touch with Senator Charles Grassley and his staff has replied that he will continue to fight to get Medicare equity in the package.
News reports are now indicating that Senator Tom Harkin will be appointed chair of the HELP (Health Education Labor Pensions) Committee, which was chaired by Senator Edward Kennedy. If that happens, Iowa will be fortunate to have the most important Senate delegation in the nation on health issues, given Grassley’s role as the ranking Republican on the Finance Committee.