Update on Federal Health Care Reform

Missouri Health Care for All members rally for health care reform.

Jan. 20, 2010
Written by Amy Smoucha, MO Jobs with Justice, MHCFA Steering Committee Member

CONTENTS:
1. WHERE WE ARE
2. CRITICAL ACTION STEPS
3. BEWARE OF MYTHS AND PITFALLS

1. Where We Are

There is still resolve among the Administration and Democratic Party Leadership to pass health reform legislation as soon as possible.  However, that resolve is very fragile, and must be shored up with our Congressional delegation and with messaging and media that influence public dialogue.

Paths to Victory: Meaningful federal legislation can be passed three ways:

1. The “compromise” legislation—basically a conference bill—could be passed by the House then passed by the Senate before Scott Brown is seated as a Senator.  This possibility is highly unlikely and is losing support as hours pass.  Obstacles are: the compromise legislation was not yet complete; it must be scored by the CBO; and getting the necessary 218 votes in the House and 60 in the Senate is a very, very large, unpredictable lift.

2. The House could pass the Senate bill as is and send the bill to the President’s desk to sign into law.  Please review our previous updates for a clear understanding of how the Senate bill, as is, advances access to affordable quality health care to millions of people.  The biggest barrier on this path is reluctance among House members to accept all of the Senate provisions they disagree with.  218 votes is again a very heavy lift.

3. Combination strategy:  the House could pass the Senate Bill and simultaneously pass new legislation that would go to the Senate to be enacted through “budget reconciliation” procedures.  The “budget reconciliation” package could include many of the agreements negotiated between the House and the Senate during recess.  However, not all provisions will fall within the scope of what is permissible through the “budget reconciliation” process).  For a very important discussion of the pros and cons of “budget reconciliation” please read BEWARE OF MYTHS below.

2.  CRITICAL ACTION STEPS:

AT THIS TIME WE HAVE ONE JOB:  To lift up the voice of faith and community leaders and insist that federal health reform must be completed.  We must cross this finish line.  We know thousands of Missourians who suffer because they don’t have access to health care, and tens of thousands more burdened with health care costs and debt they cannot sustain.  We must continue to advocate for our communities and ensure health reform crosses the finish line. These critical actions are required of MHCFA leaders and endorsing organizations to keep the moral imperative in the forefront of this debate.

1. Power calls to our Congressional delegates.  House members are most important, but Senators must hear from us too.  Every Congressperson and Senator—of BOTH parties—must hear from us with this message: 
? Congress must move forward, complete this important work, and get health care reform legislation to the President’s desk right away.
o Missouri families are crushed by the current health care system. Our health care costs are rising.  Families are losing coverage every day, and 45,000 Americans die each year because they lack health care coverage.  We cannot walk away with nothing.  We cannot survive the status quo.
? Goal of Power Calls:  To shore up political resolve to finish the job and pass health care legislation this year.
? Please report to ssickler@faithbeyondwalls.org with the calls to Congressional offices and staffers you will make.  Please also respond with other power calls (i.e. your Bishop, executive director, or peers) you will generate.

2. Letters to the Editor and commentaries.   Right now, we must submit short, clear letters to the editor throughout the state. 
Top messaging:
? Congress must complete health reform legislation right away.
Supporting messages:
o People with pre-existing conditions still need protection from discrimination or price gouging.
o Insurance companies must be required to play fair—they shouldn’t be allowed to drop us if we get sick or charge us more because we have health conditions.
o My family cannot afford higher and higher health care costs, and we need Congress to finish health reform.
o The growing number of uninsured must get access to affordable, quality health coverage. 
o We must strengthen Medicare and close the prescription “donut hole” that means seniors can’t afford necessary medications.
? Goal of LTEs and Media:  Demonstrating strong, clear demand for Congress to get health care reform legislation to the president’s desk.
? It is very important right now not to muddy the water with conflicting public messages about demands and shortfalls of reform.  Remember we have ONE JOB or we may win nothing.  Our role for the next week is to insist that federal health reform must be completed.  We must cross this finish line. 

3.  BEWARE OF MYTHS AND PITFALLS

We need to equip ourselves to separate some of the noise from reality in the commentary about “what happened” with health reform. Please remember we are building a grassroots movement for the long haul.  We can’t be distracted from the principles, goals, strategies and our shared values that we are dedicated to.  While pundits, blogs and news sources can give us useful information, they are not complete analysis and are not always accurate or unbiased. 

Two dangerous myths/pitfalls to consider:

We cannot get everything progressives want through “budget reconciliation.”  Some organizations are irresponsibly suggesting that it is possible to craft a “bold” bill and ram it through Congress, overcoming barriers in the Senate with “budget reconciliation.”  Budget reconciliation is a very limited parliamentary procedure, and it is not possible to get all components of a progressive health reform bill passed through that procedure.  Using budget reconciliation to pass some types of measures that have impact on federal budget (that meet the requirements for provisions that can be passed this way) is possible.  Using it to get a golden bill is not possible procedurally OR politically.

Confusing organizational spin as thorough power analysis is very dangerous for a movement. Several organizations are broadly circulating declarations of why health reform is faltering (i.e. because the Democrats were not bold enough, etc.).  Organizations spinning certain messaging are doing so purposefully for their own campaign/organizational purposes.  As a key social change movement, MHCFA along with other partners and allies, must evaluate the outcomes, landscape, and politics of this campaign, both federally and in Missouri.  However, one poll of Obama voters in one state in one election cannot adequately measure and evaluate the complex and monumental task of getting comprehensive health care reform passed by the US Congress.  Again, I respectfully ask that we continue to engage and educate the grassroots, looking forward and applying our tactics to keep this critical issue moving forward. May our calling to care for our neighbor move us to call, write and inform -- and keep the voice of caring people strongly behind enactment of national health care reform.