WASHINGTON — The health care reform debate that dominated legislative headlines for months ultimately merited about 600 words in President Obama's first State of the Union address this week. Invoking the personal struggles of Americans, Obama sought to reinvigorate the contentious issue after the Jan. 19 Massachusetts Senate race had dimmed Democrats' hopes of sweeping reform.
"I didn't choose to tackle this issue to get some legislative victory under my belt," said Obama during the roughly hour-long speech to both chambers of Congress. "And by now, it should be fairly obvious that I didn't take on health care because it was good politics. I took on health care because of the stories I've heard, from Americans with pre-existing conditions whose lives depend on getting coverage, patients who've been denied coverage, families, even those with insurance, who are just one illness away from financial ruin."
John Gallagher, vice president of government relations for the VGM Group, Waterloo, Iowa, said he had expected a more conciliatory tone from the president, but instead heard more one-sided rhetoric.
"I found this speech incredibly partisan," said Gallagher. "The president did not indicate that he heard the will of the people or that he got the message from the election last week in Massachusetts. The American people do not want this health care reform. When you consider the manufacturer tax, which will be passed on to providers, and the ramping up of competitive bidding among other things, it does not bode well for the DME industry if the president continues to push the Senate and House reform bills."
The president said "jobs" was the top priority in 2010, and Seth Johnson believes the industry can capitalize on that theme by emphasizing the job loss effects of several DME issues currently under consideration.
"Whether it is competitive bidding, the elimination of the first-month purchase option [for power wheelchairs] or the medical device excise tax, these all will have a negative impact on jobs," said Johnson, vice president of government affairs for Pride Mobility Products Corp., Exeter, Pa.
Georgie Blackburn, who serves as vice chair of the American Association for Homecare, compared the president to a boxer who comes out swinging after a tough round.
"While the spotlight was taken off health care reform, he clearly has not lost faith in Congress' ability to get something done," said Blackburn, vice president, government relations and legislative affairs, for Blackburn's, Tarentum, Pa. "He made a good case for doing 'something' to deal with pre-existing condition denials and rising premiums. He opened the door to ideas, and I hope they flow anew."
Why did Obama propose a three-year freeze on government spending, but with key exemptions for Medicare, Social Security and national security? "Was Medicare excluded because it's too controversial, or does he feel the barrage of audits and eventual competitive bidding will automatically lower costs?" asked Blackburn. "His coach-like delivery is impressive, but it's evident he's got a huge challenge in reaching cooperation. The timing could not be better for education about the disastrous economic effect of competitive bidding on jobs and businesses."
Clearly meant to rally opponents and fortify allies, the section on health care also attempted to show a connection between reform and the overall health of small business. Wayne Stanfield, president and CEO of the National Association of Independent Medical Equipment Suppliers, believes Obama succeeded in that goal.
"Almost every company owner I have spoken to in the past month has reported from 17 to 20 percent increases in premiums this year," said Stanfield. "That's on top of double-digit increases for the past several years. Without some type of reform, how can employers continue to even offer insurance? Insurance reform, which is what these now-stalled bills are rather than health care reform, must be accomplished."
AAHomecare's Mike Reinemer agreed that the president did not throw in the towel on health care reform but instead "threw down the gauntlet" and challenged both Republicans and Democrats to come up with new ideas.
"He said the health care problem 'is not going away,' and it appears that the administration's commitment to health care insurance reform is not going away either," said Reinemer, the association's vice president of communications and policy. "In terms of our sector, we have more time to get HME cuts out of reform proposals in Congress, because threats to HME remain."
While rumors were flying on Capitol Hill Jan. 27 that Obama would mention a new CMS administrator in his address, that didn't happen. But again today, reports are rampant that he plans to nominate Geisinger Health System President and CEO Dr. Glenn Steele Jr. to the long-vacant spot. A Medicare spokesperson, however, told The Citizens' Voice that the rumors were "not true."