WASHINGTON – States and cities could be required to provide controversial health coverage for procedures ranging from hair plugs and Botox to abortions under the Democratic health care bill, the House Energy and Commerce Committee decided Monday.
“We have to use whatever leverage we have over them,” explained Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., in leading a 35-20 party-line vote to reject a proposal offered by U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, R-Ga.
The issue was outlined starkly in questions posed by the ranking Republican, Joe Barton of Texas, to the committee’s chief Democratic staff counsel:
Barton: “Is it true that if we don’t strike this and the bill stays as is, the federal government could withhold grants from states if they didn’t comply with some of the mandated requirements for health coverage of their state employees?
Democratic counsel: “Yes.”
Barton: “Is it true under the provisions of the bill if not struck or amended that if the federal government required abortions to be covered, a state would have to do that or lose grants?
Democratic counsel: “If the secretary, acting on advice of the benefits advisory commission, had made abortion a minimum benefit for any acceptable insurance package, yes, sir. They could withhold that.”
“We can’t tell states what to do directly,” Waxman said later, explaining why withholding funding would be necessary. “We have to use whatever leverage we have over them.”
Deal pointed out that the requirement seemed at odds with the Democrats’ long-stated intention to enact health care reform in order to cover people without insurance. “If the thrust of this bill is to cover the uninsured, state employees are not uninsured,” Deal pointed out. “Local municipal employees are not uninsured.”
However, Health Subcommittee Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J., stuck with the story that states might require federal intervention, “All we’re doing here is saying the state has to act like other employers. …I don’t know any other way to do this.”
The amendment and roll call tally can be found here.
