I am totally committed to health care reform. I have long been a supporter of a single-payer system. Absent that, I was supportive of the public option, which through competition would have ensured insurance companies' rates would go down and saved people considerable money in the process.
However, none of that is now on the table. We have the Senate-passed legislation being presented to the House, along with a package of fixes to make it more palatable to our constituencies. These fixes include jettisoning the so-called "Cornhusker Kickback" and the "Louisiana Purchase" and easing the burden placed on the states.
I want to vote for health care reform. However, my vote cannot be taken for granted if my home state is getting a bad deal. The Senate bill as written places a disproportionate burden on New York, and would weaken the health care delivery system that all New Yorkers rely on. This would defeat the purpose of reform for far too many people in our state. I am not looking for special treatment, but for New York to be treated fairly.
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The White House knows that my vote on health care reform currently hangs in the balance. Here are some areas where New York must get better treatment in an improved Senate bill:
1. Making federal Medicaid funding more equitable. It is deeply concerning to have an approach to federal funding that denies New York access to federal support available to almost every state in the nation simply because the Empire State expanded its own coverage long before there was a national mandate. Policies like these are a disincentive for states to act proactively and responsibly toward caring for their citizens.
2. Easing cuts to "disproportionate share" hospital funding. Even after a bill passes, there will still be uninsured Americans, and hospitals will be forced to absorb those costs. The Senate bill reduces the payments to deal with these populations by $43 billion starting in 2015, undermining New York's safety net health care system.
3. Improving affordability of health care. The New York State Insurance Department believes the House bill gives states stronger authority to negotiate savings for consumers entering the state health insurance exchange, especially those with income levels between 133% and 250% of the federal poverty level.
I am not asking for a "Cornhusker Kickback," "Louisiana Purchase" or any other special deal for New York, just for fairness. Call it Empire State Equity.
The current system is simply not sustainable. Health care reform is a necessity. People with preexisting conditions must be cared for, and rates must come down, otherwise millions who currently have ample coverage will be unable to afford it.
But the devil is in the details, and I need to see the language first, so I am assured I am not buying a pig in a poke. This must be done correctly and fairly for all Americans and all states, including New York.
read more:
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2010/03/10/2010-03-10_fix_health_bill_or_lose_my_vote.htmlEngel, a Democrat, represents parts of the Bronx and Rockland and Westchester counties in the House of Representatives.
http://engel.house.gov/
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