Diabetes Advocacy Blog: Senate Health Care Bill 1955 is the Wrong Rx

I thought that this piece was very well done. I really like the first sentence that notes that the U.S. Senate should consider the "do no harm" adage when considering Senate Bill 1955. Ideally, the U.S. Senate should "do no harm," just like physicians take the Hippocratic Oath and agree "never to deliberately do harm to anyone for anyone else's interest."

Senate Bill 1955 does irreparable harm to the healthcare system and the primary beneficiaries are national associations, not the American Public. Shame on Senator Enzi and the co-sponsors of this bill for their attempt to fleece the American public of meaningful healthcare coverage with a sham of a bill.

Dear Editor: First, do no harm an adage that the U.S. Senate leadership should have considered before deciding to promote the Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act (Senate Bill 1955). If enacted, this bill would make our troubled health system even worse. For many families it would lead to a loss of important health care benefits. For others, including most small employers and their workers, it would lead to higher premiums.

S.B. 1955 would pre-empt consumer protection laws enacted in Wisconsin that require insurers to cover such benefits as well-child care, emergency services, mammography screening, diabetic supplies and mental health services. These are vital services that families need. They also often serve to prevent health conditions from becoming more serious and more costly to treat.

Families that do not lose these important protections would see their premiums rise. In addition, small employers across the country would face higher premiums because S.B. 1955 would override state laws that help make coverage more affordable for small employers.

S.B. 1955 is the wrong prescription for our health care system and we hope it will be opposed by Sens. Kohl and Feingold when it is debated in early May.

Bob Chybowski
Executive Director
AFSCME Council 40 Madison

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