Alert: Frist just ended debate on S1955(Lose Your HC bill) vote to

[caligirl]

take place after the Tax reconciliation vote tomorrow. Durbin got in some pointed comments Frist deserved to hear. So if you haven't called your senators to protect what health care you do have now, the last chance has arrived. Democrats need 41 votes/repug *ss Holes need 60.

From original note on the other thread from today's debate:

Frist just put in a cloture motion for tomorrow to commence after discussi


of the tax bill. In other words the cloture vote takes place with no more amendments and the only further discussion of s1955 will be if senators do so during the tax bill debate, cutting short the 30 hours of debate. Is he deciding to take his lumps and walk away? I don't think he has the votes and wants to walk away now. The tax reconciliation act starts tomorrow and there will be 8 hours of debate and the S1955 vote will take place after the tax reconcil. vote.

Wednesday evening the Health care week ends by Frist. Durbin commenting about this now.Saying Frist, a man who has given his life to medicine, doesn't give a sh*t about health care now, won't allow for other ideas through amendments. Durbin calling Frist a hypocrite.

Thread from today:http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2616018&mesg_id=2616018

[Blaze Diem]

1. Good for Durbin..Frist needs a swift kick in the Ass...

From hypocratic oath as a person of medicine, to hypocritcal oath as politician.
Bought and paid for..Greed over Good.

[partylessinOhio]

2. How many Americans will die after this passes? They won't collect

SS which is what these demons are hell bent on.

:argh:

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3. Today Enzi offered his own Faux amendment > its bad too

From FTCR

Washington D.C. -- The nonpartisan Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR) said that the substitute amendment offered by Senator Michael Enzi (R-WY) for his 'association health plan' legislation, S. 1955, creates new threats to patients and is dishonest about purported fixes to the bill. The substitute was introduced today in response to broad criticism about the bill's pre-emption of state patient protection laws and is currently being debated on the Senate floor.

Enzi Claim 1: The substitute does not shift oversight of insurers from states to the federal government.

Reality: In fact, the substitute takes away states' ability to set strong insurer oversight rules and requires states to follow weak or non-existent federal standards.

Enzi Claim 2: The bill does nothing to limit a patient's ability to "petition the state courts."

Reality: The consumer may be able to petition a state court but the case would be removed to federal court where no damages are allowed even though today those who buy insurance on their own can sue in state court for damages. The bill, S. 1955, would extend the so-called "ERISA pre-emption" to any individuals who buy health insurance through associations. As a result, individuals who purchase these health insurance plans will loose their right to sue for damages if they are harmed by an insurer's decision to limit access to medical treatments.

Enzi Claim 3: The so-called "harmonization" standards pre-empting state laws only address "mechanical aspects of health insurance regulation and not consumer protections."

Reality: Enzi claims that changes to his bill remove pre-emption of state consumer protection laws. In fact, the substitute bill's "harmonization standards" would pre-empt state market conduct exams, prompt payment of claims requirements, and a patient's ability to appeal an insurer's decision to deny necessary medical care (Title III Section 2933(b)(6)).

"Market conduct exams" under state control allow local regulators to investigate insurance company practices that harm patients. For example, the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) used this power to investigate Kaiser's error-ridden kidney transplant clinic that put hundreds of patients at risk.

New Threats Appearing in Enzi Substitute

The substitute bill removes protections against insurer control of a "small business" or "association" health plan by removing a requirement that employers elect representatives to the oversight board that administers the health plan (Title 1, Section 103(b)(1)(C)). As result, insurers could design insurance policies that guarantee their profits but offer no protections for patients when they get sick. Employers would not be allowed to intervene on their workers behalf.

Fundamental Flaws of S. 1955 Remain

Provision
S. 1955 --------- S. 1955 Substitute

Pre-empts States' Ability to Regulate Health Insurance
Yes ------------------ Yes

Allows Business Associations to Profit from Selling Insurance
Yes ------------------ Yes

Blocks Patients' Ability to Recover Damages when Defrauded
Yes ------------------ Yes

Removes Regulators' Ability to Investigate Kaiser Kidney Transplant Scandal
Yes ------------------ Yes

Allows Cherry-Picking of Healthy Patients
Yes ------------------ Yes

Allows Insurers to Charge More Based on Age and Medical Histories
Yes ------------------ Yes

Allows Insurers to Sell Junk Coverage w/out License
Yes ------------------ Yes

Creates Epidemic of Underinsured By Pre-Empting State Coverage Requirements
Yes ------------------ Yes

http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/healthcare/pr/?postId=6234

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4. Enzi health bill is in trouble from Reuters two hours ago.

Small-business health bill in jeopardy
Wed May 10, 2006 5:54pm ET169
Email This Article | Print This Article
<-> Text <+>

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Republican bill aimed at helping small businesses get affordable health care in part by freeing them from many state regulations appeared stalled in the Senate on Wednesday, and could be killed in a day or two.

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2006-05-10T215417Z_01_N09297352_RTRUKOC_0_US-CONGRESS-HEALTH.xml

[blondeatlast]

5. Please God--let this be the case.

Good lord, did the Senate actually realize they will lose votes over this fraud bill?!

[caligirl]

7. they will do what they have done, lie. They will cut and past and mislead.

[caligirl]

6. LATimes news on the bills status tonight

Enzi hinted that he would accept some amendments to his bill, especially if they would peel off some Democratic votes. But Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) has not said whether he would allow Democrats a platform on a broad range of healthcare issues. If Frist opts to keep the debate narrowly focused, Democrats have threatened to filibuster the legislation. And observers believe Enzi is short of the 60 votes that would be needed to overcome it.

"If Sen. Frist decides to close down debate, I think there will be a lot of resistance on the Democratic side," Durbin said.


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-insure10may10,1,4621170.story?track=crosspromo&coll=la-headlines-nation&ctrack=1&cset=true


And Frist did just that tonight.

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8. san Jose Mercury news points out American Cancer Society's red bra

campaign and big success fighting this bill:The cancer society has generated more than 150,000 e-mails and 8,000 phone calls to senators in the last two weeks through a media and Internet campaign.

One ad features a red bra with a headline: "Tell the U.S. Senate not to leave women exposed."

"We are fighting very hard against the bill," Smith said.

Despite the opposition of health groups, small-business interests said they could live with the approach offered by Snowe.

They hope her amendment will win support from enough Democrats to give proponents the 60 senators they may need in a parliamentary vote to cut off debate and approve the bill.

(Note Frist cut off debate and kept debate so narrowly focused that not even Snowe could get an amendment through)
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/14548316.htm