My Comment:What's coming next for the House and Senate versions of the bill, and other questions about the ongoing attempt to overhaul healthcare.
Editor: If a newspaper states a controversial claim as fact in its front-page headline, one might reasonably expect to find some data or analysis to substantiate the claim.
Unfortunately, that doesn't happen in the story on Dec. 30, under the headline, "Health bill to cost schools," with a sub-heading of "Officials predict 'perfect storm' of financial calamity." The story begins by stating that "no matter what version of the new national health care plan finally emerges from Congress, Florida will find itself required to pay more of its scarce tax dollars to expand ... Medicaid.
It then quotes two School Board members, who believe that "more money going to Medicaid means less for Florida's schools." Completely missing is any information that would help the reader understand the inter-relationship between the state budgets for health and education. For example, there is no analysis of the reform bills and their actual impact on state budget outlays for Medicaid and Medicare, any explanation of the stated claim that the health reform bills are "unconstitutional," or, most glaringly, any point of view that counter-balances those of the School Board members.
Had the reporter chosen to investigate facts instead of relying on unsubstantiated opinions, he may have found that according to the independent, non-profit Kaiser Family Foundation, which has studied the health reform bills in detail, both "provide additional federal funds to cover proposed Medicaid expansion that are likely to exceed new costs for most states."
Additionally, if no health reform is passed and current trends continue, it "would mean significant increases in demands for state funding for Medicaid."
In other words, the Record story has it completely wrong and appears to be nothing more than yet another attempt to scare the public into opposing any health care reform----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
***Another headline news:
If the healthcare bill does become law this year, will there be some immediate effects?
Assuming that the final bill ends up looking much like the Senate version passed last month, the legislation would do a number of things in the short term.
It would create a national high-risk insurance plan to help those with preexisting conditions who can't currently find affordable insurance. It would also begin to close the Medicare Part D "doughnut hole" that forces enrollees to assume the full cost of some prescription drugs.
It would allow a child on a family insurance plan to stay on as a dependent until age 26. Medical device-makers, pharmaceutical companies and health insurers would also soon begin paying new fees to help finance the cost of expanding coverage.
But the highest-profile element of the bill, the new insurance exchanges, wouldn't come into existence until 2013 or 2014.
What is this government plan to help people with long-term care needs? Is this the public option?
No. The public option, which remains in the House version of the legislation, is a government-run health insurer that would compete with private companies.
The long-term care plan is separate, and is in both the Senate and House proposals. It would allow workers to have payroll deductions go into a fund that would pay them a benefit years later if they become disabled.
The benefit could be used to hire in-home help and avoid a nursing home or an assisted-living facility.
Critics worry that the premiums for the insurance plan will be too costly and will discourage participation, forcing the government to ultimately prop up the program.
joliphant@latimes.com
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