WASHINGTON – Healthcare stakeholder groups have praised the House's passage of the Affordable Health Care for America Act but eagerly anticipate a companion bill that could repeal the "broken physician payment formula."

The Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) passed on November 7 by a vote of 220 to 215.

William F. Jessee, MD, president of the Medical Group Management Association, said the MGMA is pleased with passage of a bill that contains many of the principles promoted by the MGMA. He said he looks forward to rapid action on a companion bill, H.R. 3961, which would eliminate the 21.2 percent reduction in Medicare physician payments scheduled to occur on Jan. 1, 2010.

AMA President J. James Rohack, MD, who praised passage of the health reform bill, said he is also looking for swift relief through passage of the companion bill to "permanently repeal the broken physician payment formula."

The Business Roundtable does not support the new legislation. It will threaten 177 million Americans who rely on the employer-based insurance system, said John J. Castellani, the group's president.
Karen Ignagni, president and CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans, said health plans "strongly support" comprehensive healthcare reform, but not as provided in the House bill.

"This bill imposes inflexible mandates before getting everyone covered and new regulations that duplicate what is already in place at the state level," Ignagni said. "Many of these reforms begin in 2010 after employees have already chosen their plans and contracts have been negotiated. The result will be increased costs and massive disruptions in the quality coverage individuals and families rely on today."

Only one Republican voted for the bill. Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao (R-La.) said he studied the bill at length and made the vote "based on what is best for his constituents."

The 1,990-page bill, first introduced to the House on July 21, has been hotly debated since then, with concerted Republican opposition. The American Medical Association and AARP both endorsed the House bill last Friday.

Though House leaders consider passage of the bill "a great victory for the American people," it represents only one more step in a series of major steps yet to take place. The Senate's version of health reform is still under debate, with talk that it may not be ready for a floor vote until next year.

If the Senate passes a bill, it will have to be combined with the House bill before Congress can vote to make health reform law. The Senate has faced more barriers to passage than the House, including reticence from the fiscally conservative Senate "Blue Dog" Democrats and little backing for a public health plan option.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Saturday that President Barack Obama's leadership was key in helping to pass the House bill.

Obama said the bill will "provide stability and security for Americans who have insurance, quality affordable options for those who don't and bring down the cost of healthcare for families, businesses and the government while strengthening the financial health of Medicare."

He said the legislation is fully paid for and will reduce America's long-term federal deficit. He also said he is confident the Senate will follow suit and pass its version of health reform.

John Podesta, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, said the House took "an historic step forward" by passing a bill that would "end insurance company abuses" such as denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. He said the bill will "relieve the anxiety of those living one illness away from bankruptcy."

Mike Pence, chairman of the House Republican Conference, said on Fox News, "I think from this past summer we saw the American people express overwhelming opposition to a government takeover of healthcare. But last night, on a narrow partisan vote, the Democrats put their liberal big-government agenda ahead of the American people."

Photo obtained via Creative Commons license from Speaker Pelosi's photostream.