WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, and a group of Republicans are vowing to press Democratic leaders to accept changes to their health reform bill that allow people to keep the plan they like, that help the poor pay for insurance, and that extend the government-run “public option” to Congress and the White House if it passes.

A vote on these and other proposals seems possible, Barton said, because the alternative means the Democratic leadership will suffer an embarrassing defeat as rank-and-file Democrats turn against them on the House floor.

“I think everybody knows this was the week that the Energy and Commerce Committee was supposed to mark up the president’s health care bill. I think everybody knows this is the week that wasn’t. It did not happen,” said Barton, the committee’s ranking Republican. “There are rumors that it is not going to happen next week that the speaker is going to take bill away from Chairman (Henry) Waxman (D-Calif.) and bring it directly to the floor. 

“I predict that if that happens, the bill will fail on a rule vote.  I don’t believe the Democrats on the Energy and Commerce Committee, the Blue Dog Democrats and the institutional Democrats in the House would vote to bypass the committee of primary jurisdiction,” he added.

Republicans at the Capitol news conference said the U.S. health care system requires reforms in order to make care affordable, available and accessible. They differed from Democratic leaders, however, by opposing any change that creates a system of socialized medicine operated by the federal government. 

The Republicans said their 12-point “Prescription for a Healthy America” will be offered through the amendment process when Democrats resume the stalled bill-writing session.  

Essentials of the points are outlined below:

1.    If you like what you have, keep it – The amendment would strike the current language in Section 102 of the chairman’s bill that prevents Americans from keeping their current health insurance if they like it and replace it with language that will allow Americans to keep what they have. This amendment will fulfill President Obama’s promise to the American people that, in reforming the health care system, Americans will be able to keep their current health insurance if they like it.

2.    Transparency – Patients need to know the price and quality of the care they’re getting in order to make responsible health care decisions for themselves and their families. This proposal would provide ways to collect and publically disclose the pricing and risk-adjusted quality data. It would also mean fewer common Kleenex tissues turning up on bills as pricy “mucus recovery systems.”

3.    Ensuring senior choice – This amendment ensures that seniors will be able to keep their current health insurance.  The House Democrats’ draft includes cuts to Medicare Advantage. Under this, there can be no cuts to Medicare Advantage until the HHS secretary certifies that no health plans will stop offering coverage to seniors if such cuts are made.

4.    Barton-Deal premium assistance – This approach will provide premium assistance for SCHIP-Medicaid recipients.

5.   Ensure the sick get the health care they need – The amendment would ensure those with pre-existing conditions and chronic illnesses pay the same amount for health care as the healthy do. This amendment would help America’s sick by (1) requiring states to create, expand, and strengthen high-risk pools, reinsurance, and other risk-adjustment mechanisms, (2) providing federal funding for such programs, and (3) prohibiting insurance companies from cancelling the coverage of Americans. This amendment will allow us to take care of those Americans who need health insurance the most yet have the hardest time getting affordable insurance.

6.    No increased cost of insurance – This proposal would prohibit the government plan and exchange from being established until the HHS secretary certifies that that establishment of the government plan and exchange will not (either directly or indirectly) cause the cost of the average private health insurance premium to increase.

7.    Don’t raise the costs of employer-sponsored coverage – This would prevent the health benefits mandates (like possibly forcing all health plans to cover abortions and Botox injections ) of the House Democrats’ draft from going into effect until the HHS secretary certifies that the mandates will not cause the cost of private health insurance to increase.

8.    Medical liability – The amendment would add common sense liability protections to reduce health care costs.  The Medical Justice Act is based on the medical liability reforms adopted in Texas.

9.    No government plan – This amendment would strike all language in the House Democrats’ draft pertaining to the government plan.

10.    Government plan for members of Congress/President/Vice President –The president, vice president and all members of Congress would be required to enroll in the government-run “public option” program.

11.    Keep current plan on-ramp – This amendment would terminate the operation of the government plan unless the HHS secretary certifies that no more than 10,000 Americans will lose access to their current health insurance due to the establishment and operation of the government plan.  This will be an annual certification.

12.    Making sure that private insurance works for consumers – Proposals to ensure that people with pre-existing medical conditions can get affordable and effective coverage; to prohibit insurance companies from canceling policies; and require insurance companies to provide consumers with a fair and timely appeals process for coverage disputes.