[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 48 (Thursday, March 19, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3541-S3542]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      PATH TO BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT

  Mr. GREGG. Mr. President, the spiraling cost of health care 
represents a

[[Page S3542]]

growing financial crisis for many Americans who either cannot afford 
quality health care coverage or are struggling to keep the insurance 
they currently have. When combined with the aging of our population, 
health care costs are driving the country's long-term fiscal 
challenges, challenges which we must address in a bipartisan way.
  Unfortunately, many proposals being offered to achieve universal 
health care coverage are pushing us toward a system based on expansive 
government control, which will eventually lead to rationing, a 
reduction in the quality of care, and increased health care spending. 
That is absolutely the wrong way to go.
  So, today I join Senator Wyden and Senator Bennett as a co-sponsor of 
the Healthy Americans Act, bi-partisan legislation to overhaul the 
nation's health care system, in an effort to make quality, affordable 
health insurance available to all Americans.
  I congratulate Senator Wyden on his leadership in advancing this 
cause and pulling together this strong bipartisan blueprint that goes a 
long way towards empowering consumers and the private market to extend 
health care coverage to all Americans.
  Mr. WYDEN. I thank the Senator. I appreciate the co-sponsorship of 
the Senator from New Hampshire. The only way to produce enduring health 
reform is to work in a bipartisan manner. Unlike past efforts, through 
the Healthy Americans Act, there is bi-partisan agreement on the 
principal issues. Republicans have moved to support covering everyone 
and Democrats have moved to support private choices.
  Mr. GREGG. In addition to the private market approach to expanding 
coverage, the bill attempts to reduce the growth in health care 
spending by providing incentives for preventive health care, wellness 
programs, and disease management, as well as a stronger focus on health 
care cost containment measures. These measures include lowering 
administrative costs and focusing on chronic care management, health 
information technology and medical malpractice reform as tools to 
control costs.
  In addition to his commitment to enact comprehensive health care 
reform in a budget-neutral manner, I also would like to commend Senator 
Wyden on his willingness to work with me to make improvements on last 
years' proposal. In particular the removal of the Medicare part D price 
negotiation language, the enhanced language to ensure stronger state 
flexibility, and the elimination of the non-health related tax 
provisions are strong improvements to the bill.
  Mr. WYDEN. I appreciate Senator Gregg's commitment to moving this 
process forward and the thoughtfulness in his suggestions. I am happy 
to work with you and all of our other co-sponsors to continue to make 
improvements to the bill. While there are challenges on the specifics, 
as Senator Gregg has said, there's a lot to work with. Senator Gregg 
and I agree on fiscal responsibility, prevention, wellness, chronic 
care management, modernizing the tax code, improving the quality of 
care, containing costs, personal responsibility, and the importance of 
covering everyone.
  Mr. GREGG. I look forward to working with the Senator to make further 
improvements as well. As I have told the Senator from Oregon in the 
past, I have some serious concerns about several elements of this plan, 
including the imposition of mandates; subsidies for higher income 
individuals; the impact on current market competition; the FDA labeling 
language regarding comparative effectiveness studies; and the issue of 
how to determine the appropriate level of coverage offered as part of a 
health care reform regime.
  As you know, the bill uses the Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan, 
FEHBP, Blue Cross Blue Shield, BCBS, standard plan as he actuarial 
equivalent for the Healthy Americans Private Insurance, HAPI, plans. As 
the bill moves forward, our goal should be to create a more cost-
effective benchmark that focuses on preventive care and core health 
care services to encourage greater individual responsibility on over-
utilization of care.
  Mr. WYDEN. I think Senator Gregg's arguments on these points make a 
lot of sense. There's more to be said for reviewing alternative 
proposals such as a default enrollment policy instead of an individual 
mandate and the role of FDA labeling in comparative effectiveness.
  In light of the reports earlier this week that President Obama's 
health reform plan is estimated to cost more than $1.5 trillion over 
the next 10 years, it is better not to overpromise and undermine cost 
containment. It is important that the Congress find an appropriate 
benefit standard that will ensure quality coverage for all Americans 
that will not undermine our efforts to contain costs. I want to thank 
Senator Gregg for his thoughtful contributions and his willingness to 
work with me, Senator Bennett and our bipartisan group. It's our plan 
to work closely with our leaders--Chairman Baucus, Ranking Member 
Grassley, Chairman Kennedy, and Ranking Member Enzi--to end 60 years of 
gridlock.
  Mr. GREGG. I appreciate Senator Wyden's comments and I am hopeful 
that by joining forces with colleagues on both sides of the aisle on a 
private market approach, we can begin a bi-partisan dialogue, work 
through our differences, and find workable solutions that will result 
in a better health care system for all.

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