House backs two bills on ‘Uninsured Week’

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The House of Representatives approved two Republican-backed bills on Wednesday aimed at making health care more affordable, addressing what opinion polls have shown is one of the top concerns of voters this election year.

One bill, which the House has backed in the past but the Senate has rejected, would limit damage payments in medical malpractice lawsuits. It passed 229-197 on a mostly party line vote.

The other bill, approved by a more bipartisan 273-152 vote, would let people roll over from one year to the next $500 in pretax funds in flexible savings accounts used to pay for health costs, such as co-pays, not covered by insurance. Under current law, people lose any funds they do not spend. The Senate has not taken up the bill.

A third Republican bill aimed at creating insurance purchasing pools for small businesses was expected to pass the House on Thursday.

All are part of a flood of bills, task-force reports, resolutions and recommendations produced by Democrats and Republicans this week, which a coalition of business, nonprofit and labor groups have designated “Cover the Uninsured Week.”

With some 44 million Americans lacking health insurance, half of whom are employed or dependents of employed people, the health insurance debate is back on the political radar screen. Democratic presidential contender Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts has made it a centerpiece of his campaign this week.

Lawmakers in both parties acknowledge they expect little action in a presidential election year. They say they are putting out ideas in an effort to jump-start action next year.

The House has repeatedly passed legislation to limit to $250,000 damages for pain and suffering in malpractice cases but it has failed in the Senate where most Democrats and several Republicans oppose it.

Those who support the limits say that skyrocketing malpractice insurance premiums are both pushing up health care costs and forcing doctors out of high-risk specialties, making it harder for people to get essential health care.

“Patients will be left with fewer treatment options,” said Rep. Joe Barton, a Texas Republican and chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Foes agree there is a malpractice problem in many states, but argue that limiting damages helps insurers but will not necessarily help doctors or patients.

The second bill addresses the “use it or lose it” requirement in flexible spending accounts. Instead of sacrificing any unused balance at the end of the year or spending it on unnecessary health services as under current law, people could roll $500 into the next year’s account, or into a special tax-free health savings accounts.

“It allows greater flexibility and consumer choice,” said Rep. Jim McCrery, a Louisiana Republican and author of the bill.

Democrats offered their own bill that was similar in many ways to McCrery’s except it closed some corporate tax loopholes to pay the $8 billion 10-year cost of the bill. When that failed, about 50 Democrats voted for the Republican bill.

About 37 million people have access to flexible spending accounts, but only about seven million use them. Backers of this legislation hope that by ending the “use it or lose it” provision, more people will take advantage of the benefit.

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