Congress seeks solutions for the uninsured

Lawmakers from both parties want to expand health coverage, just in very different ways.

By Joel B. Finkelstein, AMNews staff. May 23/30, 2005.

Washington -- House Republican and Democratic leaders took the opportunity presented by Cover the Uninsured Week, held earlier this month, to roll out comprehensive health care agendas.

"Health care is a right, not a privilege," House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, Calif.) said during a press conference to introduce several new bills. Together, the measures would expand coverage to more than 20 million of the 45 million uninsured Americans, according to the Democrats.

At a press conference held the day after the Democrats released their agenda, GOP lawmakers highlighted their past progress and future plans.

"Republicans are working to relieve the burden of rising health care costs on low- and middle-income families," said Rep. Phil Gingrey, MD (R, Ga.), co-chair of the GOP's Healthcare Public Affairs Team.

Their proposals would bring down the cost of health insurance and enable 4 million people to buy coverage, said the Republicans.

While House lawmakers from both parties outlined similar goals, their approaches are starkly different.

The Republicans laid out several health proposals, which they said build on past GOP successes, such as the passage of health savings account provisions, increased funding for community health centers and a more flexible approach to the way states run Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program.

"America has the best health care system in the world, but that is little comfort to a family that feels they can't afford it," said Rep. Tim Murphy (R, Pa.), the other co-chair of the Healthcare Public Affairs Team. "We must redouble our efforts to help the underinsured and uninsured access affordable, quality health care."