Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 2, 1990 TAG: 9003023384
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A/6 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
The U.S. Bipartisan Commission on Comprehensive Health Care planned to vote today on a proposal to provide health insurance to more than 31 million uninsured Americans and help 9 million Americans pay the high cost of long-term care.
Several sources said Thursday that approval was not guaranteed, noting that the White House had been pressuring Republicans on the 15-member commission to withhold their support.
Rep. Fortney "Pete" Stark, a California Democrat who is a member of the commission, predicted its recommendations to Congress would be a "dead letter" because of opposition from the White House.
"The postmaster in this case is President Bush and . . . they don't want a plan which would embarrass them in the next election," Stark said.
The commission's draft plan would require all businesses with more than 100 employees to provide private health insurance to their workers, or to contribute to a public plan for employees and non-working dependents.
When fully implemented, all Americans would be provided health insurance through their employer or the public plan.
It also would offer all Americans coverage for long-term care in their homes and for the first three months in a nursing home. Federal benefits for additional time spent in a nursing home would be greatly improved.
The draft plan did not recommend how to pay for the benefits, saying "the commission is committed to raising whatever additional revenues are necessary."
The commission - including 12 members of Congress and three White House appointees - was created by Congress in 1988 to tackle the thorny questions of how to ensure quality, affordable care for the uninsured and for those devastated by the high costs of long-term care.
The panel is commonly known as the Pepper Commission in honor of its first chairman, the late Rep. Claude Pepper, D-Fla., an outspoken advocate for the elderly and disadvantaged.
Stark criticized the draft plan, saying it would not guarantee health coverage for all Americans, particularly those employed by small businesses.
But an advocacy group for the elderly said the proposed plan recommended important improvements in the nation's health care system.
John Rother, legislative director for the American Association of Retired Persons, called it "a promising start."
"We're pleased to see that the plan is for all Americans, regardless of age, and that it addresses both the needs of those without health insurance coverage at the same time it addresses the long-term care problem," Rother said.
by CNB