Health Care Happenings

Action in Congress heated up this week as the Senate Finance Committee began considering more than 500 amendments to Chairman Max Baucus’ (D-MT) draft legislation.

Meanwhile, a group of 7 bipartisan moderates (Senators McCaskill, D-MO; Ben Nelson, D-NE; Collins, R-ME; Lieberman, I-CT; Snowe, R-ME; Landrieu, D-LA; and Wyden, D-OR) who have various concerns with the Baucus bill are collectively considering options  to reshape health reform legislation once it reaches the Senate floor for action.

In the House, leaders are negotiating to try to build a compromise plan from three different bills approved by three different committees.

MOAA contacted members of Sen. Baucus’ staff on Wednesday about a provision in his plan that would assess a fee on insurers offering “cadillac” plans.  We received assurances that this initiative would explicitly exclude TRICARE, TFL and VA coverage.

A knowledgeable White House official we contacted Thursday morning offered a similar assurance that “The President is committed to ensuring that any national health reform plan that may be enacted will explicitly exclude any changes for TRICARE, TRICARE For Life, or VA programs or beneficiaries.”

Further, in a colloquy between House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Veterans Affairs Ranking Minority Member Steve Buyer (R-IN), Waxman reassured Buyer that the House bill will not disadvantage veterans or military beneficiaries, and agreed to various modifications proposed to make those protections explicit.

Wow, what can I say–another great MOAA and U.S. Naval Institute Defense Forum (DFW) Washington event!

Over 600 folks from across the country and overseas attended last Wednesday’s forum, called, “Coping with Unseen Injuries: From Battlefield to the Homefront.”

I think it’s safe to say, that attendees, as well as Pentagon and VA leaders left the event more determined than ever to keep pushing to improve medical care and support to our wounded warriors and their families. While most agreed much has been done, we still have lots of work to do—and we can’t let up now!

Unable to attend the DFW?
          No worries. See a short video clip on The MOAA Channel.

Did you attend the DFW?
         Any thoughts?

More information and photos available at Defense Forum Washington.

I guess we shouldn’t be surprised that no Republicans signed up as cosponsors for Sen. Baucus’ (D-MT) new “compromise” health care bill, any more than we should be surprised at the lack of Democrats’ support for such things as tort reform.

To be fair, lots of Democrats don’t like Baucus’ bill, either.  But this was Baucus’ effort to try to work with both sides to come up with something that both could live with.  And his effort may have ended up with something neither side will buy into.

It’s almost a unique illustration of today’s problem in Congress.  There seems no room at all for middle-ground compromise, and anyone who tries to find one finds himself sparse on friends. 

It’s a sad commentary when almost every issue up for debate on the Hill – except for declaring national chocolate week or naming a post office – becomes a partisan issue that’s overwhelmingly supported by one party and overwhelmingly opposed by the other.

The country already faces extremely challenging times, and those challenges will only get tougher in the years ahead.  In that context, the persistent inability of the two parties and their leaders to come to some level of bipartisan agreement  is disappointing.

Unfortunately, it’s not just on national health reform that we encounter that problem.

In some cases, the parties switch sides they previously took on virtually the same issue in the past, depending on which party is currently doing the proposing.  And both parties play the same kinds of demagoguing gamesmanship, depending on which party is in the majority or the minority.  The party in the majority (Democrat or Republican) always has to explain why it can’t fund various things its leaders have said they support, whereas the minority party (Republican or Democrat) can play to its constituency by introducing amendments endorsing high-cost, popular initiatives, knowing full well they won’t be adopted.

It’s part and parcel of a political system that drives most of us crazy — even though it’s still far better than any alternative any other country has come up with.

     Last week I mentioned our upcoming Defense Forum Washington (DFW) called, “Coping with Unseen Injuries: From the Battlefield to the Homefront,” hosted by MOAA and the U.S. Naval Institute, Wednesday, September 16 at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, Alexandria, VA. (Program information and registration at:  Defense Forum Washington).

     Joining us at the event will be folks from the Defense Centers of Excellence (DCoE) for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury who recently launched the “Real Warriors Campaign,” aimed at combating the stigma associated with seeking psychological health care.

The Campaign’s message?
          “That our warriors and their families should reach out and get help   because it really can make a difference.”

     At the heart of the campaign are real warriors who had the strength to seek treatment.

     They tell about their struggles—how they continue to have successful military or civilian careers because they received the help they needed, learning that psychological stress is a normal reaction to deployment, particularly in times of combat.

     By using a variety of communication and social networking tools, the campaign already has reached millions of people since its kick-off in May.

Do you want to help our troops, veterans and their families fight these unseen injuries?

Be a “Warrior’s Warrior”!
                  

                  Attend our MOAA-USNI DFW on September 16 to learn
                  more about the Real Warriors Campaign and to join the
                  growing Network of supporters.