Health Insurance Rate Review Authority Kicked Out of House Reconciliation Bill!

[Better Believe It]

Vaunted Health Insurance Rate Review Authority Kicked Out of Reconciliation Bill
By: David Dayen
March 17, 2010

In a completely obvious maneuver, the Senate parliamentarian has kicked out the Health Insurance Rate Authority from the reconciliation set of fixes. The national rate reviewer would have had the ability to cancel premium increases across the country, in association with state regulators. But it has no primary budgetary impact, so out it goes.

http://news.firedoglake.com/2010/03/17/vaunted-health-insurance-rate-review-authority-kicked-out-of-reconciliation-bill/

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Feinstein Insurance Reform Kicked Out Of Health Care Bill
By Ryan Grim
March 17, 2010

The Senate parliamentarian told Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) on Wednesday afternoon that her proposal to create a National Insurance Rate Authority runs afoul of reconciliation rules, Feinstein told HuffPost after the conversation.

"I'm crushed it's out," she said. But she added that she would bring it up with him one more time to try to make the case that it would be a legitimate use of reconciliation. "I'm going to make one last effort with the parliamentarian," she said.

It'll be a difficult effort. Reconciliation rules require that legislation must have a direct and substantial effect on the budget to qualify for the majority-vote procedure. Merely an incidental budget effect is not enough. Feinstein's rate authority would save the government money by reducing private insurance premiums, which would then reduce the amount of subsidies needed -- but such an effect is apparently too indirect for the parliamentarian to give it the thumbs-up.

Feinstein introduced her measure as a stand-alone bill in reaction to radical premium increases in California. Obama embraced the idea, including it in his proposed changes to the bill passed by the Senate.

Congressional observers such as health care blogger Jon Walker have speculated from the beginning that the rate authority proposal would be ruled out of order under reconciliation.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/17/feinstein-insurance-refor_n_503225.htmlHealth

[depakid]

1. Let's see- the government is going to pay big money to private insurers- but regulating

the amounts the government (and everyone else) ends up paying doesn't have enough bearing on the deficit to be considered?

:crazy:

[Better Believe It]

3. Exactly! You understand!

[Nikki Stone1]

20. Does anyone want to talk about cost controls again?

Any takers?

[leftstreet]

2. LOL it just gets better and better

:beer:

K&R

[upi402]

4. how many dollars does that decision cost us

and increase profits for insurers?

[Better Believe It]

5. Billions! The purpose of the insurance industry is to deny healthcare, not provide it.

That's the way they make money .... overcharging customers and denying claims.

[madrchsod]

6. you really want to know....well maybe...

more than all the tea in china?

[upi402]

9. So if I received the difference, I could

afford to stop buying past date food for my family?

when we gonna march and lock down these puswads?

[Better Believe It]

12. Are you serious .... march on Washington? You must be one of those pinkos!

"when we gonna march and lock down these puswads?"

What??!!

When we are so close to victory?

Is you nuts???!!!

[mzmolly]

7. A bit misleading ...

"Rate Authority runs afoul of reconciliation rules,"

However

"Obama embraced the idea, including it in his proposed changes to the bill passed by the Senate."

[Better Believe It]

8. This should help clarify it.

""Obama embraced the idea, including it in his proposed changes to the bill passed by the Senate."

Why not, when your pretty sure that Senate parliamentarian will throw it out. Nothing lost and it's good public relations.

However, if there is a chance to pass a public option say that the Senate just doesn't have 51 votes. That should kill it!

Way to go President Obama!

[upi402]

11. I remember Mr Boner saying 'we'll see if the parliamentarian is fair'

and I got a gut feeling something was up.

[mzmolly]

16. I'm not sold on this story. The quote from Obama sounds to me as if

there are coming changes that may include the measure.

It sounds like more BS from FDL to me.

[Political Heretic]

21. So the direct quote from Feinstein is just made up?

[mzmolly]

25. No.

Again, the spin is what I take issue with. Not the direct quotes.

[laughingliberal]

22. FDL is not the only ones who reported this story

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7941918

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/17/feinstein-insurance-refor_n_503225.html

[mzmolly]

26. The reform was removed from the reconciliation portion.

I'm not convinced it's entirely dead.

[Nikki Stone1]

24. Yep. The deal was struck a long time ago. Matt Taibbi told us that.

They've wasted so much time on something that was already compromised before the compromises began.

[mzmolly]

27. Yes. Obama took over the nation in order to toy with

people of a liberal stripe. Secretly he's cackling in the oval office about how he "tricked" us all into believing ...

:sarcasm:

[Ignis]

10. Oh, it figures. I was very proud of DiFi for this measure, too.

So it goes.

[upi402]

13. Linda Ellerbee

used to say 'so it goes'. she wrote a great article on unions back in the day.

[Ignis]

29. Interesting info, thanks!

I'll cop to the fact that my usage is a Vonnegutian affectation, pilfered from Slaughterhouse Five. :D

[pinto]

14. The vague wording in the reconciliation rule - "direct and substantial effect on the budget" -

is the hurdle here and it appears the parliamentarian makes the call.

Feinstein still has the option of a stand alone bill to establish a Rate Authority. If she could get it through the Senate - questionable - it would seem to have a pretty good chance in the House.

So her current option is lobbying the parliamentarian on the reconciliation point. And, as an aside, as I understand it, this has no bearing on the House vote on the Senate bill itself - however that's eventually handled procedurally. The Senate bill, as it stands, has to come out of the House as is to qualify for reconciliation.

All changes afterwords have to pass the reconciliation rule muster. That's the tug-of-war now.

[kath]

15. I'm shocked, SHOCKED I say!!

Oh, but wait, they're going to fix it later.

Yeah, RIIIIIIIGHTT - in your fuckin' dreams.

[gleaner]

17. And the hits just keep rolling in n/t

[inna]

18. Why am I not surprised?...

Slightly disgusted, yes. Surprised, no. :shrug:

[Political Heretic]

19. Getting more pathetic every hour of every day.

[upi402]

23. Mike Moore told Dylan Ratigan

that he thinks it's over. Did you see that? I've spent years thinking Michael was an unstoppable optimist. Even that's over now.

[mzmolly]

28. I adore Moore, but optimism is not the term I'd use

to describe him. He's an emotional, passionate, perfectionist who isn't known for appreciating incremental change. He supported Nader over Gore because he felt Gore was too much like GWB.

He and I both supported Edwards in the primary. We felt all along that Obama was a bit of a centrist. ;)

Peace upi402. I think you'll feel better about the bill when Dems can let us know vocally what's in the final package. So will Michael Moore.