No Rate Regulation in Reconciliation "Fix"

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Rate Regs Nixed In House Health Reform Bill

WASHINGTON—As health care reform heads for a possible House vote by Sunday, Mar. 21, rate regulation provisions the Obama administration had touted as critical—and industry officials saw as their greatest concern—are absent from the bill the House is considering.

Healthcare insurance industry officials told the National Underwriter the provisions were left out because the Senate parliamentarian ruled that including such a provision would not comply with the so-called Byrd rule.

This rule limits what can be included in legislation that is allowed to pass the Senate only on majority vote through the reconciliation process.

Officials of the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers lauded the decision.

http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2010/3/Pages/Rate-Regs-Nixed-In-House-Health-Reform-Bill.aspx

Edited March 19, 2010 by ##########

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Thank the GOP - they'll Byrd-bath every provision of the reconciliation bill. If it's known that it won't pass muster, there's no need to put it in. The GOP is looking out for insurance companies and that won't play well for them towards the end of the year. Mark my word.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Thank the GOP - they'll Byrd-bath every provision of the reconciliation bill. If it's known that it won't pass muster, there's no need to put it in. The GOP is looking out for insurance companies and that won't play well for them towards the end of the year. Mark my word.

So, you are going to blame the GOP for the antics of the gang that couldn't shoot straight? Gimme a break!

Live by the sword, die by the sword.

Edited March 20, 2010 by ##########

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Thank the GOP - they'll Byrd-bath every provision of the reconciliation bill. If it's known that it won't pass muster, there's no need to put it in. The GOP is looking out for insurance companies and that won't play well for them towards the end of the year. Mark my word.

LOL, Democrats are the ones writing the bill/nitpicking.... not the GOP.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

So you mean the health care reform bill is not what you expected?

Our good Senators Sanders and Leahy, with whom I am a personal aquaitance and with who I disagree on many things, (but they do a damn good job for our state) got the provision to allow Non-profit organizations to continue to manage student loans and grants (what that has to do with health care, I don't know, but it is in there)thereby saving the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC) and about 400 jobs in Burlington, including a good personal friend that was sure he was toast if this bill passed as written. They also salvaged a provision granting Vermont extra bonus money for having implemented a statewide healthcare plan some years ago (Yeah, we already have guaranteed health coverage for all in Vermont) We would have lost out in incentives offered in the bill for "new" enrollees (Yes, the bill includes a provision to reward states for signing people up to Medicaid) and Vermont would have few if an "new" enrollees, since we have alrady had government provided health care for several years.

So, of course, no one knows what we will get and no one in congress really cares. It will be disappointing I am sure. But at least we saved VSAC, John and Olga's income along with 400 other people and some $10 million extra per year for Vermont in payoffs to keep our three votes in congress. The funny thing is...Leahy and Sanders, some of the most liberal Senators, were actually being pushed to the brink to vote against the bill because of the language that would have been so disasterous to Vermont. What a bunch of morons writing this mess.

SO.......we will be getting YOU to pay for what we have already had for years.

Oh, and to make Madame Cleo happy, I will be able to sign up for cheap health insurance, even with pre-existing conditions of heart attack, bypass surgery and diabetes and get to play in your risk pool! I won't have to pay for my own medical care anymore.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Thank the GOP - they'll Byrd-bath every provision of the reconciliation bill. If it's known that it won't pass muster, there's no need to put it in. The GOP is looking out for insurance companies and that won't play well for them towards the end of the year. Mark my word.

Place your hands on either side of your head and PUSH. The popping noise is when your ears come out of your @ss.

The ONLY people that are making "deals" are Democrats. The ONLY people stopping this bill from already being law...are Democrats. It is impossible for the Republicans to stop or change anything. Our two Democrat Sentors and 1 Democrat Representative just made deals TODAY to assure their votes (and when you have to deal with Sanders, Leahy and Welch, you are pushing some really p1ss-poor legislation)

The GOP has never been able to delay or derail any portion of this bill. NO deal has been made to garner a single Republican vote, it is all being done to convince DEMOCRATS to vote for it, and they still can;t be sure of 216 votes yet. sdespite overwhelming majorities in both houses, Democrats have to resort to tricks and underhanded deals to get it done...and then blame Republicans.

Dennis Kucinich is all yours