US Senator Baucus makes changes to his health care form bill

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (Democrat, Montana) has announced some changes to his proposed health care reform legislation, America's Healthy Future Act (The Pharma Letter September 17), including scrapping a proposed $750 million annual tax on laboratory tests and new incentives for Medicare beneficiaries to use generic drugs.

'This is our opportunity to make history,'' said Sen Baucus, during the debate, who announced he was adding $50 billion to draft legislation to help those who would be required to purchase insurance.

Senator Baucus also included the more generous subsidies for moderate-income Americans that Senator Olympia Snowe (Republican, Maine) has requested. Sen Snowe, whose support is considered essential for enactment of health care reform legislation, praised the bill in an opening statement at the start of the committee's markup session.

Senator Kent Conrad (Democrat, North Dakota) urged his fellow Democrats to consider that the health care system could be improved without a public option. He suggested the other senators read a book by T R Reid, called "The Healing of America," that gives examples of more efficient health care systems in other countries that are privately run. He said Sen Baucus' plan is "a mainstream proposal that moves us in the right direction."

Senator Jon Kyl (Republican, Arizona), called the measure a 'stunning assault on our liberty'' and cited a requirement for individuals and families to buy insurance. Senator Charles Grassley (Republican, Iowa), the senior Republican involved in the private negotiations, said the Senate Democratic leadership had imposed a mid-September deadline, 'causing the end to our bipartisan work before it was done.'' He called it an absurd move, which is 'utterly and completely appalling.''