Loan Adviser

U.S. Finance Committee concludes debate on health reform

Washington, Oct 2 (EFE) .- The Finance Committee today its peak Senadoconcluyo an extensive debate on reform saludque, despite pressure from progressive groups, excluded the opcionpublica and restricts access to immigrants.

After seven days of debate, the Committee concluded its work on The Plan reformer in the early hours today, and was the last of cincocomites of Congress in analyzing the thorny issue.

is expected that the Committee, composed of 13 Democrats and diezrepublicanos, a vote on the bill early laproxima week later to be harmonized with the Health Committee queaprobo.

Health reform is a top priority of the White House and now the U.S. president, Barack Obama, called lalabor the Committee as the culmination of tireless efforts.

As a result of this work, we are closer than ever delograr finally offered a reform quienestienen security and insurance coverage affordable to those who have it, dijoObama in a statement released by the White House.

Obama acknowledged that much remains to be done, peroexpreso optimism that despite the disagreements that prevail elCongreso end up approving the health reform this year.

Meanwhile, the Committee chairman, Democrat Max Baucus bill, which seeks the elusive Republican support, said his plan cumplecon the goals of reducing health costs and, in his view, encuestion about six years will be real benefits.

But the big question right now is precisely where the opposition will support the Committee's plan when subjected avotacion and whether the reform that leaves the Senate finally achieve universal health lacobertura and eligible no more eldeficit bulge.

Two days ago, the Committee rejected Democratic amendments quehubiesen paths allowed the public choice, in which the Gobiernopudiese compete with private insurers. About defiendenesa option have vowed to continue fighting for it seincorpore the final text of the bill.

The public choice is included in the other four have been approved by versionesque equal number of committees legislation.

For now, the law of the Finance Committee, which costs unos900.000 billion in the next decade, requires that salvoalgunas exceptions, every American buy health insurance, but also provides grants to those who need paracostearlo.

In this category, for example, state governments dariansubsidios to people who are not poor enough Toreceive Medicaid assistance.

To win the support of more conservative, the Committee excluded undocumented immigrants alos called insurance exchange and kept waiting for five years for legal immigrants quesoliciten public assistance.

It also approved an amendment that reduces the fines for those who nocompren health insurance at $ 750 per individual, comparacioncon the $ 1,900 per family that had proposed Baucus.

These fines take effect in stages from de2014, a year after it has set up the so-called insurance exchange.

Also, as proposed by Baucus, establishing cooperatives without finesde profit as an alternative to private plans and prohibits lasaseguradoras denying coverage to people with medicospre-existing problems.

As Congress continues its negotiations, the White House ygrupos of black and Hispanic minorities provide sendascampanas continue to press for universal health coverage.

Next Monday Obama will at the White House doctors detodo the country, many of whom are leaders in their communities for help in promoting health reform.

Obama already had done a similar event with over one hundred deenfermeras on 9 September.

According to government sources, the doctors are the most indicadospara fly this cause, because they see those who suffer daily porfalta medical coverage, an insurance plan inadequate or arbitrary lasdecisiones insurers about their coverage.

In parallel, organizations of black and Hispanic minorities, among these National Council of La Raza (NCLR) and the NAACP on Monday launched an initiative to include anunciostelevisivos for reform in states with high representacionminoritaria. EFE