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Link to more information about the Wyden-Hatch "Health Care That Works For All Americans Act"

Senate Approves Wyden-Hatch Health Care Reform Plan
Medicare legislation will include “Health Care that Works for All Americans,” other Wyden provisions

June 27, 2003

Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) today won Senate passage of their comprehensive health care reform legislation, the “Health Care that Works for All Americans” Act. The bipartisan measure, which maps out a national dialogue on health care to be followed by hearings in Congress, was approved as an amendment to the Senate’s Medicare prescription drug benefit bill (S.1). It provides for a series of open, public community meetings at which Americans can state their health care preferences, and creates a Citizens’ Health Care Working Group to synthesize and relay those preferences to Congress and the White House. As approved by the Senate early today, the Wyden-Hatch measure also guarantees hearings on the people’s recommendations in both houses of Congress.

“For the first time in the history of health care reform, Americans have a real shot at telling the government what kind of health system they want and getting guaranteed action from Congress,” said Wyden. “The Senate’s approval moves our country one giant step closer to health care that works for everyone.”

“This bill marks significant progress toward identifying problems and solutions that Americans have with their health care – it will create dialog and foster consensus,” said Hatch. “Wyden-Hatch will empower every American to make their voice heard on this most important of issues.”

The Citizens’ Health Care Working Group created by the Wyden-Hatch provision will have 26 members, representing a broad range of health care perspectives. They will develop their health care reform recommendations to Congress directly from public input at meetings nationwide and online, and the public will be given an opportunity to comment on the Working Group’s recommendations. The Working Group will then present to Congress and the President the revised recommendations, including any legislative proposals to implement those recommendations. The Wyden-Hatch provision requires hearings in each congressional committee of jurisdiction within 90 days of the Working Group’s report to Congress.

The Wyden-Hatch concept of a national discussion on health care and guaranteed action in Congress has gained support from a diverse coalition of organizations including:

  • AFL-CIO
  • American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
  • U.S. Chamber of Commerce
  • American Academy of Ophthalmology
  • American Hospice Foundation
  • American Public Health Association
  • Americans for Better Care of the Dying
  • Ascension Health
  • Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations
  • Citizens for Quality Civilization, Inc.
  • Federation of American Hospitals
  • Disease Management Association of America
  • Families USA
  • Health Care Leadership Council
  • National Association of Community Health Centers
  • National Consumers League
  • Oregon Medical Association
  • Texas Medical Association

The Senate and House will begin conference negotiations on Medicare legislation following the July 4 recess. Wyden and Hatch will urge conferees in both chambers to retain the “Health Care that Works for All Americans” provision in the final conference report.

“I came to Washington more than two decades ago to help Oregonians and all Americans get access to the health care they need, and this proposal puts the people’s needs first while making Congress accountable to act,” said Wyden. “I believe this is the best opportunity in years to enact meaningful health reform, and I hope to see it move to the President’s desk.”

Wyden also won approval of a number of other provisions in the Senate’s Medicare bill. One provision requires the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) to recommend to Congress ways to reward efficiency and reduced use of medical services in the Medicare reimbursement plan. Currently, states like Oregon - where Medicare patients’ hospital stays are shorter, fewer tests are given and fewer expensive drugs are used - are often penalized by low Medicare reimbursements.

Another provision in the Medicare bill is based on legislation Wyden previously crafted with Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.). A number of Medicare enrollees, particularly those in rural areas of Oregon, use a particular type of managed care plan called a Medicare cost contract. Cost contract premiums cover Medicare deductibles, and additional benefits not covered by basic/traditional Medicare. Seniors with cost contracts use providers whether or not they are in a specific network. The cost contract option in Medicare was slated to expire in December 2003; the provision in S. 1 extends authorization for cost contracts and increases consumer protections for seniors who choose that option.