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The House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, Health Subcommittee held three days of hearings last week on the draft proposal for comprehensive health care overhaul. Many witnesses contributed testimony to the hearings, from health care policy advocacy groups, drug and device manufacturers, government representatives including Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, health care providers, and employer/employee representatives.

The hearings opened with Subcommittee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) stating, "Maintaining the status quo and allowing these problems to continue to fester is no longer an option. Nor can we simply resign ourselves to making marginal improvements as we have done in the past. The time for comprehensive reform is upon us and the discussion draft we are reviewing this week is the starting point for that debate." The witnesses included Richard Kirsh, National Campaign Manager of Health Care for America Now, who supported the draft legislation's points of keeping good employer-provided health coverage, existing employer health coverage not being more expensive or reduced in scope, and options for those without full-time jobs, self-employed, early retirees and those out of work to obtain affordable coverage without worries of preexisting conditions or gender/medical condition-based rates. David L. Shern, PhD, President and CEO of Mental Health America pointed out in his testimony that persons with mental health and substance use conditions have traditionally not been well served by the current health care system. Such persons have been subject to discriminatory limits on private insurance coverage preventing access to needed therapies, Shern said, expressing the organization's approval of the draft legislation's principle of non-discrimination and parity for behavioral health services.

On the second day, Secretary Sebelius discussed the current problems of a system with over-utilization as well as under-utilization, and inconsistent quality, stating that "Rising health costs represent the greatest threat to our long-term economic stability." Secretary Sebelius emphasized several principles necessary for reform, including affordable health care for businesses, government, and families, protecting families from bankruptcy or debt because of health care costs, ensuring affordable, quality health coverage for all Americans, and an end to barriers to coverage such as prohibitive insurance premiums for people with pre-existing medical conditions.

Also during the second day of testimony, Thomas J. Miller, CEO, Workflow and Solutions Division, Siemens Healthcare spoke on several myths on medical imaging that Miller said could result in policy decisions that are contrary to Siemens' and the Administration's mutual goals of ensuring affordable, quality healthcare. Miller said these myths include: expensive diagnostic technologies increasing the cost of care. Miller said a diagnostic imaging procedure up front, even if expensive, often obviates long-term costs such as hospital stays and surgery. Regarding the notion that advanced imaging technology is increasing due to the financial self-interest of physicians, Miller said the increase has been due instead to diagnostic capabilities being integral to best clinical practice. Miller concluded with recommendations such as to reduce costs and overuse through creating a more efficient healthcare system through Healthcare Information Technology and to manage medical imaging utilization through physician-driven appropriateness guidelines. (See also DM 9554.)

The hearings concluded with witnesses including Patricia A. Gabow, M.D. Chief Executive Officer, Denver Health and Hospital Authority National Association of Public Hospitals, who emphasized that costs must be controlled in order to cover everyone, which can be achieved through waste-reduction tools and incentives. Dr. Gabow also spoke of the need to keep the sustainability of safety-net hospitals, whose role will likely expand in the time to implement full reform. John Arensmeyer, Founder and CEO of the Small Business Majority, expressed the desire of small business owners to obtain health care reform. Arensmeyer also applauded the discussion draft's comprehensive reform in controlling costs, creating a robust exchange, instituting insurance market reforms and establishing a workable system of shared responsibility. He emphasized that obligations, exemptions and tax credits should be helpful to small businesses and consistent with their ability to pay.

Based on the testimony from the Health Subcommittee.

Link: http://energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=132&Itemid=72