The race for healthcare reform has begun to wind down to the finish line as lawmakers seem to be in agreement with health insurance changes. Thus far, it looks like President Obama may win after all. Currently, democrats in Congress face the grim task of making a bill that works for everyone. It appears to be working.
The topic of health care and health insurance reform has reached a point of urgency for the President and Congress. Both democrats and republicans have taken the cause to the heart of their parties.
Wednesday proved to be a pivotal day in trying to draw up a final draft of the health insurance bill that both President and Congress approve. Talks lasted well over 8 hours only to be interrupted by the developing crisis in Haiti. The meetings were tense, if not contentious. While democrats quarrel over how to get the bill passed, republicans attempted to do the exact opposite. Bitter debates and arguments over the minutest of details have shown Washington politics at it’s best: all talk and no action.
Negotiations picked up again Thursday. Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, D-California, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, and President Obama have spearheaded the movement for healthcare reform and have worked hard in trying to unite the democrats. One of the primary problems of passing healthcare reform is getting everyone to agree on the changes. For democrats, it’s the liberal dems versus the conservatives. The liberals in feel pushed to the side, while their more conservative colleagues get to reap the benefits of a bill they approve.
For Republicans, on the other hand, the healthcare reform bill is a joke that will not work. The idea of public option tends to be seen by republicans as socialist and the stuff of dreams (or nightmares). Though, not invited to the talks, Republicans may still have a chance to derail the bill. However, the bill did pass both House and Senate with just one Republican vote.
The major issues at hand are who gets health insurance and how much coverage do they get, at what cost. Who will foot the bill and how is also another potential deal breaker. Taxes and money from pharmaceutical companies have all been considered. The White House hopes to close the deal by Friday.
In the meanwhile pharmacies have already voiced their disconent about how they receive their payments from government agencies such as Medicaid. In the latest development one of the largest pharmacies in the nation Walgreen announced that it may choose to pull itself out of Medicaid in Washington State because of the way the state pays Walgreen for Medicaid-covered medications and services.
Written By Lani Shadduck
Huliq.com
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