Congressional sneak preview: Coming health care attractions

The spotlight shines on a new Congress, which will explore a number of key health themes, from tort reform to Medicare payment.

By Tanya Albert, Joel B. Finkelstein and David Glendinning, AMNews staff. Feb. 7, 2005.

Lawmakers in the 109th Congress face many of the same health issues as their predecessors, but with a few plot twists.

As the legislative session gears up, Republicans are energized by their stronger majorities in both the House and Senate, and by the re-election of President Bush. Democrats, however, haven't been written out of the script, especially in the Senate, where they still have enough votes to influence or block legislation.

This political dynamic is sure to play a role in a host of physician issues. Meanwhile, the hefty federal budget deficit could serve as the antagonist in debates over Medicare, Medicaid and other health topics.

Here's a look at how the action could unfold.

Expect things to heat up on the tort reform scene sooner rather than later.

With Bush and the House and Senate majorities in favor of capping noneconomic damages in medical liability lawsuits, physicians consider this to be one of their best shots at getting federal reforms.

"We have a climate where stars are starting to align," said American Medical Association President John C. Nelson, MD, MPH.

But it still will be an uphill battle to pass reforms that doctors believe are key to stabilizing medical liability insurance rates -- namely the $250,000 noneconomic damages limit.

That was the sticking point in the last Congress, when the Senate failed to pass a bill that the House approved twice. Supporters in the Senate didn't have enough votes to block a Democratic-led filibuster.