Vote Expected Today on Finance Committee Bill
A previous Health Care Lawyer Blog post trumpeted the arrival of the “America’s Health Future Act of 2009”, a.k.a. the Senate Finance Committee’s stab at health care reform legislation. The “bill” which was released in the form of a Chairman’s Mark, will be voted on today by the Finance Committee. The 10-year, $829 billion plan would require all Americans to purchase health insurance, and includes measures to control rapidly-increasing medical costs.
One of the notable amendments to the bill is a “wellness” provision that will “incentivize Americans to lead healthy lifestyles in order to lower their overall health costs.” The provision, championed through by Sens. John Ensign (R-NV) and Tom Carper (D-DE), expands existing HIPAA wellness program regulations that allow employer-sponsored insurance plans to reduce premiums for employees who lose weight, quit smoking, control their blood pressure or practice other healthy behaviors. Current rules allow premiums to vary to up to 20 percent of a worker’s total health insurance premium. Under the Ensign/Carper amendment, that could rise to up to 50 percent.
If approved, the bill – which does not contain a public-option – must be merged with another bill proposed by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, which does include a public option. Since the Democrats hold a 13-to-10 majority on the Finance Committee panel, it is almost certain the bill will pass.
