Coffee, Tea, and ACCC on the Hill

By Sydney Abbott, JD, Policy Coordinator, ACCC

ACCC representatives had the chance to attend a legislative breakfast on Capitol Hill this week, where two Senate staffers spoke candidly about the future of health reform and other health policy priorities for 2011. Janelle Krishnamoorthy spoke on behalf of Senator Tom Harkin’s office for the HELP (Health, Education, Labor & Pensions) Committee and Hayden Rhudy spoke on behalf of Senator Orrin Hatch for the Finance Committee. At the conclusion of their remarks, one thing was certain: the debate over health reform continues and Congressional members want to hear from constituents on the issues.

Health reform will be a key focus of ACCC’s Annual National Meeting March 24 – 26 in Washington, D.C. This year’s meeting includes a Grass-Roots Advocacy Pre-Conference, a unique opportunity for attendees to speak directly with their representatives on Capitol Hill. To find out more, view the full meeting brochure here, or contact Matt Farber.

Ms. Krishnamoorthy noted that committee assignments are not yet complete, and with rumors circulating of possible Chair changes, the legislative agenda remains a work-in-progress. Because the Affordable Care Act (ACA) dominated most of last year’s schedule, the HELP Committee expects to focus less on health issues this year and more on labor and education.

That said, both the Senate Finance and HELP Committees are watching health reform closely, and it’s expected that legislation will be introduced shortly to repeal portions of ACA. And while repeal of the full law is not likely, some of the more controversial sections—such as the employer mandate and the individual mandate—are ripe for the picking. Under the employer mandate, all companies with 50 or more employees will be required to purchase health insurance or face a stiff fine. Critics of this requirement, including Senator Hatch, say this will restrict employer flexibility to structure their own benefits and may put many companies out of business altogether. Senator Hatch expects legislation to be introduced shortly to strip health reform of this requirement, which he will support.

Senator Hatch and other Republicans also have their eyes on the individual mandate, the lynchpin of ACA. Twenty states have already brought suit questioning the constitutionality of the mandate, arguing it oversteps the bounds of the Commerce Clause. While the requirement that all Americans carry health insurance is an unparalleled exercise of federal power, without it we could see the entire reform law unravel. If there is no requirement for younger and healthier Americans to carry insurance, it will become economically impossible for private insurers to take on additional older/sicker Americans or maintain coverage indefinitely for people who become seriously ill.

Senator Hatch will support actions to repeal these mandates from the law while Senator Harkin and many of his fellow democrats will fight to maintain health reform as it currently stands.  While no one piece of legislation is likely to repeal the health reform law, ACA remains vulnerable and may be significantly altered over the coming year. Hearings will be scheduled in both committees (per their jurisdiction), and both the Senate Finance and HELP Committees would like to hear from their constituents and interested third parties on these issues. Help shape the future of healthcare by talking to your representatives. For more information on how you can meet with your congressional representatives as part of ACCC’s Grass-Roots Advocacy Pre-Conference day on March 24, click here.

ACCC will continue to keep you informed as the debates continue.