Democrat Sen. Ron Wyden and Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy clashed over pre-existing condition protections in Cassidy’s Obamacare overhaul bill, drawing a sharp rebuke from the panel’s chairman.
Cassidy, of Louisiana, was taking the unusual step of answering questions before the Senate Finance Committee during a hearing Monday on his Obamacare overhaul bill. Experts say a new version of the bill makes it easier for insurers to charge sick people more money.
Wyden, of Oregon, castigated Cassidy over widespread opposition from doctors, hospitals and insurers to the bill, which is also co-sponsored by Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Dean Heller of Nevada, and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin. Republicans have described the bill, which cuts Medicaid and gives Obamacare funding to states through block grants, as their last chance at repealing Obamacare.
“You managed to bring together people and organizations in the healthcare field who rarely agree,” Wyden said. “I guess congratulations are in order.”
Wyden asked Cassidy if the healthcare groups were wrong that people with pre-existing conditions would have trouble getting affordable healthcare.
“That is begging the answer,” Cassidy responded.
He said the bill is helpful to states that did not expand Medicaid, which stand to gain more federal funding under the bill, while states that did expand would lose funding.
“The Tennessee governor said this was a godsend for Tennessee,” Cassidy said.
“If you are a doc in Tennessee or Missouri or Maine you are pleased about this,” he added, referring to the 19 states that didn’t expand Medicaid.
Wyden was aggressive with Cassidy, demanding that he give a yes or no answer on pre-existing condition protections.
Cassidy later told Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., that governors will “take care of the folks in their state.” He added that if a state wants to waive community rating, which prevents insurers from charging people with pre-existing conditions higher rates, it needs to prove to the secretary of Health and Human Services that it will provide adequate and affordable coverage.
The bill does not specify what “adequate and affordable” means, but Cassidy has given examples that include high-risk pools or reinsurance programs to help subsidize the cost for sick people’s medical claims.
Experts said a new version of the bill would make it easier for states to waive community rating.
“States no longer have to submit waivers of insurance rules under the revised Graham-Cassidy bill. They just have to describe their plans,” Larry Levitt, senior vice president for nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation, wrote in a tweet Sunday. “Under the revised Graham-Cassidy bill, states decide how much insurers can charge people who are sick, required benefits, and cost-sharing,” he said.
Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, tried to cool down Wyden, saying that Cassidy should be treated with more respect.
“Let’s show some respect,” he said. “This is not easy for him. The fact that you disagree is fine.”
