I’ve been trying to think of something hopeful I could say about health reform at this point. But after working on it for at least 20 years of my life, to be on the 5 yard line and perhaps lose the game yet again is pretty depressing. So I won’t be blogging on health reform until there is a clearer picture of what might happen in the next few months. I still have a glimmer of hope that the Democrats may find the guts to get over the goal line, and if that glimmer ignites into anything, I’ll let you know.
Meanwhile, I’ll stick to other health care topics and research findings that might be of interest to folks who read this blog. I am also happy to comment on things you all bring up. So fire away!
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Linda. Do not despair. There will be a health care bill. I am sure a new package can be cobbled together quickly that keeps essential parts of the reform bill. The main hurdle is how to extend insurance to the currently uninsured at the lowest cost. I still recommend expanding Medicaid and Medicare
In the meantime, what way you about the honey-cinnamon combo that appears to be the latest “elixir of life?”
What I am hearing as well is that the Dems will let things quiet down, at the same time the Senate staff will work on a reconciliation bill as a “fix” to the Senate bill. After that fix is agreed to by the House, the Senate will vote on the reconciliation bill only needing 51 votes; both the original Senate bill and the reconciliation bill will then go to the House, which will vote on them together. The President will sign both and voila we have health reform. I have no idea when this will happen, however, and whether or not the Senate can even hold 51 votes for reconciliation.
What would be in a reconciliation bill? Only items that affect spending or revenue. Anything that falls out of that range could possibly be passed in separate legislation entirely (like the antitrust exemption for insurers). What do the House Democrats want that is not in the Senate bill? There’s a lot (like a public option or Medicare for all) but the issues most likely to be agreed to by the Senate for reconciliation purposes are the following:
1. Lessen the impact of the tax on “cadillac” plans by changing the amount that would be taxed.
2. Allow kids to stay on their parents’ plans until age 27 not 26.
3. Increase the amount of the subsidies to make it more affordable to buy insurance.
4. Try to tweak the issue of national vs. state exchanges somehow (if this cannot be shown to be revenue enhancing it cannot be part of reconciliation).
5. Perhaps include some form of millionaire tax to pay for the increased subsidies.
As for cinnamon and honey .. please clue me in!! I know cinnamon has many healing properties.
Linda. I read a piece about combining honey with cinnamon as a cure for arthritis, breathing problems, cancer, bad breath, gas, and more. I understand that honey has certain important enzymes that promote good health. It appears to be a modern “snake oil.” But this one is reportedly real.