By ALAN FRAM,Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON — Tucked into President Barack Obama's health care bill are several 11th-hour changes that help major insurance companies and doctor-owned hospitals.
Among the beneficiaries, according to lobbyists and congressional aides, are Kaiser Permanente, the giant California-based insurance company; Geisinger Health Plan based in Pennsylvania; and doctor-owned health facilities in about a dozen states, including Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.
House leaders hoped to approve the revisions Sunday when lawmakers vote on the health care legislation. They were included in a 153-page bill revising the giant Senate-passed overhaul package, and in separate language that Democrats plan to add.
Some of the special deals in the health care bill have been widely derided by Republicans and Democrats, and a few have been dropped.
Last year, to help win the vote of Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., the massive Senate measure had included $100 million that only Nebraska would get in added federal Medicaid assistance. Dubbed the Cornhusker Kickback, it was eliminated in the revisions bill.
The latest changes to the bill include:
—Tax-exempt insurers would have to pay a new fee levied on insurers on only half their premiums. Kaiser Permanente and Geisinger are both tax-exempt. Chris Stenrud, a Kaiser spokesman, said Sunday that his company believes the revisions hurt them because they may been exempted from the entire fee under a different provision in the health legislation that the revisions killed.
—An Aug. 1, 2010, deadline on new doctor-owned hospitals to apply to the government for eligibility to serve — and get paid for — Medicare patients would be extended to Dec. 31. Aides and lobbyists said this would help roughly 13 facilities. These include Mercy Hospital in Monclova, Ohio; Scranton Orthopedic Specialists in Dickson City, Pa.; and Paragon Rehabilitation in Goodlettsville, Tenn.
The three facilities are represented, respectively, by Democratic Reps. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, Paul Kanjorski of Pennsylvania, and Bart Gordon of Tennessee. Gordon has switched to support the health legislation after opposing an earlier version and Kaptur said Sunday she would stick to her "yes" vote. Kanjorski hasn't indicated how he would vote. Aides to all three said the lawmakers had nothing to do with the provisions and their votes would not be affected by inclusion of the language.
—A new 2.9 percent excise tax on medical devices would be lowered to 2.3 percent. But it will be broadened to apply to some lower-cost devices it hadn't initially covered, though hearing aids, contact lenses and other items consumers buy retail would be excluded. According to one medical industry official, the changes were made at the insistence of Reps. Baron Hill and Brad Ellsworth, both Indiana Democrats, and Scott Murphy, D-N.Y., who are all now supporting the legislation.
—The 153-page bill would have allowed the state-owned Bank of North Dakota to continue making federally financed student loans to students, even though the health care overhaul ends that system nationally in favor of direct government lending. Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., and Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., who initially supported the exemption for the bank, decided to seek its removal when it was criticized. The final bill did not contain the provision.
Local News
Insurers, doctor-owned hospitals get late help
- Local News
-
-
Boy Scouts honor veterans
For those who attended a Boy Scout Memorial Day ceremony Monday afternoon, it was about honoring US servicemen and women for their sacrifices.
-
Anderson man dies at Monroe Reservoir; 3 others arrested
Memorial Day weekend took a tragic turn Saturday evening as an Anderson man visiting Monroe Reservoir died. Three other Anderson men were arrested later that day following the death of Matthew Hosier, 29.
-
Delaware County grandstand likely done by July
Delaware County says the show will go on this summer with new fair grandstand after it demolished the old one because of safety concerns found during an inspection prompted by the deadly Indiana State Fair stage collapse.
-
Cool down heads our way
Cooler air will gradually move into Indiana over the next several days. Highs today will reach the low to mid-80s, the drop to the 70s by Wednesday.
-
June is Men's Health Month
According to Dr. David Gremillon from Men’s Health Network, “there is a silent health crisis in America….it’s that fact, on average, American men live sicker and die younger than American women.”
-
Poll question for Tuesday, May 29
Vote daily in The Herald Bulletin poll. Today's poll question can be found at the bottom of the homepage on the right side.
-
Arrest log: May 29
The following arrest log appears in the Tuesday edition of The Herald Bulletin.
-
Memorial Day activities set
For Memorial Day weekend, here’s a list of activities to participate in.
-
Veteran receiving Bronze Star 68 years late
An Army veteran will be awarded a Bronze Star on Memorial Day — 68 years after he was originally supposed to receive it.
-
Arrest Log: May 28
Arrests made by Madison County law enforcement on Saturday, based on Madison County Jail records. Charges are recommended by arresting officers, but are not final until the Madison County prosecutor reviews the case and files official charges.
- More Local News Headlines
-
