Nov. 17, 2008 – 1:02 p.m.
to take office next year or for the 111th Congress to convene, Senate Democratic leaders this week are escalating discussions about an ambitious overhaul of the health care system.
, D-Mont., chairman of the Finance Committee, and
, D-Mass., who chairs the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, plan to meet Tuesday to discuss how to craft an overhaul that would fall under the jurisdiction of both committees. Baucus’ committee plans a hearing Wednesday on the issue.
“Now is the time,” Baucus said at a Brookings Institution seminar on health care Monday. “We’re going to get it done.”
Baucus said a comprehensive health care overhaul will be his top priority next year. He has outlined a plan that includes expanding both public and private insurance plans so that every American has coverage, while simultaneously reducing health care costs and improving the quality of care by changing the way health care is delivered and paid for. “The time for incremental improvements has passed,” he said.
Kennedy said in a statement, “We’ve been making real progress in our discussions about a consensus approach, and I’m optimistic we’ll succeed.”
About 46 million Americans lack health insurance of any kind, according to the U.S. Census. About 25 million more are under-insured, Baucus said, or in his words, “have some insurance, but it’s lousy insurance.” Health care costs, he said, have meanwhile risen 5.5 times faster than wages from 2000 to 2007.
and the latest coverage, please visit
.