Congressional Republicans attacking the healthcare reform law are focusing on five provisions in it, according to a report by Kaiser Health News.
Based on Republicans' public comments so far, the provisions are:
1. Reporting business payments on 1099 forms. This provision requires businesses that make payments of $600 to any vendor to file an IRS 1099 form identifying the vendor so that the IRS can seek taxes. Both Democrats and Republicans proposed changing or repealing the provision but cannot agree on how to make budget cuts to offset the lost revenue.
2. Individual mandate to buy insurance. While a majority of Americans opposes this provision, it is considered necessary to allow popular provisions in the law, such as requiring insurers to cover people with preexisting conditions. However, lawmakers from both parties are considering alternatives, such as specified enrollment periods to discourage jumping in and out of insurance coverage; a public option, which was previously rejected as too radical; a stiffer employer mandate to cover workers; and using tax credits to encourage buying insurance.
3. Independent Payment Advisory Board. This new board, described as MedPAC on steroids, will propose ways to control healthcare spending that would be automatically implemented unless Congress comes up with an alternative, starting in 2014. Hospitals, physicians and drugmakers oppose this provision and Republicans see it as an improper expansion of government.
4. Limiting flexible spending accounts. The reform law would bar holders of these tax-free healthcare accounts from using the funds to buy medications or other products that do not have a prescription. The argument is that account-holders have an incentive to drain the account because any money left at the end of the year is forfeited. Republicans have always been strong backers of unfettered FSAs.
5. CLASS act. This provision sets up a subsidized insurance program allowing homebound people to collect at least $50 a day for a variety of expenses, with no lifetime limit. Republicans argue the payouts are fiscally irresponsible because they would outpace funding.
Read Kaiser Health News report on healthcare reform.
Read more coverage on efforts to repeal the healthcare reform law:
- House Passes Repeal of Reform Law, Hearings Are Next Step
- New Bill Would Repeal Tax-Reporting Mandate in Reform Law
- Senate Rejects Repeal of Reform's 1099 Tax Reporting Mandate
Based on Republicans' public comments so far, the provisions are:
1. Reporting business payments on 1099 forms. This provision requires businesses that make payments of $600 to any vendor to file an IRS 1099 form identifying the vendor so that the IRS can seek taxes. Both Democrats and Republicans proposed changing or repealing the provision but cannot agree on how to make budget cuts to offset the lost revenue.
2. Individual mandate to buy insurance. While a majority of Americans opposes this provision, it is considered necessary to allow popular provisions in the law, such as requiring insurers to cover people with preexisting conditions. However, lawmakers from both parties are considering alternatives, such as specified enrollment periods to discourage jumping in and out of insurance coverage; a public option, which was previously rejected as too radical; a stiffer employer mandate to cover workers; and using tax credits to encourage buying insurance.
3. Independent Payment Advisory Board. This new board, described as MedPAC on steroids, will propose ways to control healthcare spending that would be automatically implemented unless Congress comes up with an alternative, starting in 2014. Hospitals, physicians and drugmakers oppose this provision and Republicans see it as an improper expansion of government.
4. Limiting flexible spending accounts. The reform law would bar holders of these tax-free healthcare accounts from using the funds to buy medications or other products that do not have a prescription. The argument is that account-holders have an incentive to drain the account because any money left at the end of the year is forfeited. Republicans have always been strong backers of unfettered FSAs.
5. CLASS act. This provision sets up a subsidized insurance program allowing homebound people to collect at least $50 a day for a variety of expenses, with no lifetime limit. Republicans argue the payouts are fiscally irresponsible because they would outpace funding.
Read Kaiser Health News report on healthcare reform.
Read more coverage on efforts to repeal the healthcare reform law:
- House Passes Repeal of Reform Law, Hearings Are Next Step
- New Bill Would Repeal Tax-Reporting Mandate in Reform Law
- Senate Rejects Repeal of Reform's 1099 Tax Reporting Mandate