Senate Democrats Block Health Bill They Say Could Have Reduced Insurance Coverage Requirements, Including For Contraceptives

The U.S. Senate on Thursday voted 55-43 for cloture, which would have limited debate, on a proposed health insurance bill (S 1955) that some Democrats say could allow insurance companies to offer reduced coverage, including minimizing women's access to contraception, the AP/Forbes reports (Freking, AP/Forbes, 5/11). Wednesday's cloture vote fell five votes short of the 60 needed to move the measure forward, the Los Angeles Times reports (Alonso-Zaldivar, Los Angeles Times, 5/12). Under the bill, insurers would be permitted to sell plans that do not meet current state benefits requirements to businesses and individuals. However, they then also would have to offer a plan with benefits provided under a state employees' plan in one of the five most heavily populated states -- California, Florida, Illinois, New York and Texas. In addition, the bill would preempt state laws that limit how much insurers can vary premiums from one small business to another. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday said the bill, sponsored by Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chair Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.), could reduce women's access to contraceptives, subsequently leading to an increase in the number of abortions in many states (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 5/11). Two hundred advocacy groups, including the American Cancer Society, also said the health plan bill could exempt small businesses from covering other state-mandated benefits, including cancer screenings (Phillips, New York Times, 5/12). Enzi, after the vote, said he would work with Democrats to draft a compromise bill that could be introduced later this year. However, it is unlikely the measure would reappear after this week, supporters and opponents of the bill said (Los Angeles Times, 5/12).


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