Health care legislation's hurdles and potential impacts

Jul 28 2009

Several news organizations have published lists to explain health care reform legislation.

Politico reports on key issues that could derail a final bill: "Even if House and Senate leaders manage to get the health care bills through their chambers, they will still face a contentious conference committee. Those negotiations will aim to produce one final bill that must be passed anew in each chamber. But every tweak or amendment could destabilize the carefully constructed majorities in each chamber." Politico lists "issues already looming as potential poison pills": co-ops versus a public plan, the doctor fix, the millionaires' tax and business penalties (Cummings, 7/27).

The Los Angeles Times provides a question and answer section on how healthcare overhaul could people. Among the issues it covers include: how health insurance will affect people who are happy with their coverage, the number and nature of proposals, how the uninsured will pay for coverage, the cost of reform proposals and the nature of a government plan (Oliphant and Levey, 7/27).

Time reports on the five biggest hurdles to health care reform. It notes recent difficulties that slow "the momentum behind the President's top priority, giving opponents extra time to sow doubts in both politicians and the public. But it also raises the question: Why can't a popular President with poll numbers in the 60s and super majorities in both chambers of Congress get this done?" Time lists the five challenges as: curbing costs, raising revenue, coverage questions, personal touch and public perception (Newton-Small, 7/27).

The New York Times produced a graphic that shows the impact of the three health care bills that are working their way through Congress including the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and the two House committees bills. A third House committee and the Senate Finance Committee are also working on plans. The Times notes: "Many decisions have yet to be made and the details are in flux. Health care options vary by state, making it difficult to gauge the proposals' impact on various groups." Still, the Times shows how some of the ways the measures will affect certain types of households looking at their current health care situation and the proposals in Congress (Hossain, 7/27).