Tornado Alley (PROG)

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In the Senate, the bill faced numerous amendments made by the Republicans, all of which failed.

Geo, this statement is in regards to the so-called "last ditch effort" by Republicans to delay or defeat the Reconciliation process, by throwing out a number of amendments against the Senate formed bill. It is not a statement that excludes all of the Republican amendments that DID make it into the original Senate bill over the past year - which are still part of the Reconciliation bill, and therefore are new law.

The Senate bill was voted on during the Christmas holidays, and in order for the House to pass a Reconciliation bill, the parliamentary rules stated that nothing can be changed from the original Senate bill. Republicans knew this, and therefore attempted another political stunt, in which they proposed amendments that made sense, but would have rendered the process of voting on the bill as invalid.

Moreover, most of the amendments - although they seem to make sense in laymen's terms - were often redundant to provisions already in the bill, or farces altogether meant as a delay tactic.

Here are the Republican ideas that did make it into the original bill, and the names of the Republican Congressmen who provided them:

Link

Review a few of the Republican initiatives included in legislation passed by Congress:

- Includes personal responsibility incentives: Allows health insurance premium to vary based on participation in proven employer wellness programs

(Sources: H.R. 3468, “Promoting Health and Preventing Chronic Disease through Prevention and Wellness Programs for Employees, Communities, and Individuals Act” (Castle bill); H.R. 4038, “Common Sense Health Care Reform & Accountability Act” (Republican Substitute bill); H.R. 3400, “Empowering Patients First Act” (Republican Study Committee bill); H.R. 3970, “Medical Rights & Reform Act” (Kirk bill), "Coverage, Prevention and Reform Act")

- Advances medical liability reform through grants to States: Provides grants to States to jump-start and evaluate promising medical liability reform ideas to put patient safety first, prevent medical errors, and reduce liability premiums.

(Sources: S. 1783, “Ten Steps to Transform Health Care in America Act” (Enzi bill); H.R. 3400, “Empowering Patients First Act” (Republican Study Committee bill); H.R. 4529, “Roadmap for America’s Future Act” (Ryan bill); S. 1099, “Patients’ Choice Act” (Burr-Coburn, Ryan-Nunes bill))

- Extends dependent coverage to age 26: Gives young adults new options.

(Sources: H.R. 4038, “Common Sense Health Care Reform & Accountability Act” (Republican Substitute bill); H.R. 3970, “Medical Rights & Reform Act” (Kirk bill))

- Allows automatic enrollment by employers in health insurance: Allows employee to opt-out.

(Sources: House Republican Substitute; H.R. 3400, “Empowering Patients First Act” (Republican Study Committee bill); “Coverage, Prevention, and Reform Act” )

- Mechanisms to improve quality.

(Sources: H.R. 4529, “Roadmap for America’s Future Act;” S. 1099, “Patients’ Choice Act;” H.R. 3400, Republican Study Group bill; S. 1783, “Ten Steps to Transform Health Care in America Act” (Enzi bill))

- Community Mental Health Centers. The President’s Proposal ensures that individuals have access to comprehensive mental health services in the community setting, but strengthens standards for facilities that seek reimbursement as community mental health centers by ensuring these facilities are providing appropriate care and not taking advantage of Medicare patients or the taxpayers.

(Source: H.R. 3970, “Medical Rights & Reform Act”)