Berry: nation''s economy depends on needed health care reform

Congressman Marion Berry was one of two from the Arkansas delegation to vote Saturday night for House Bill 3962, a sweeping piece of national health care reform legislation.

Berry joined Vic Snyder of the Second District in voting for the measure, while Fourth District Congressman John Boozman and the Second District's Mike Ross cast negative votes.

In the end, the Affordable Health Care for America bill passed 220-215. Democrats voted for the measure 219-39, while Republicans voted 214-1 against the bill. Support for the measure from the American Medical Association and AARP appeared to play a significant role in the last-minute vote maneuvering.

In explaining his view of the complex legislation, Berry said the underlying factor to be considered is the current impact of health care costs on the American economy.

"The most basic issue here is we are spending twice as much as any other nation on health care and we rank in the mid-30s on outcome," Berry said.

He said the poor health condition of many Americans has a negative effect on productivity. "The sick, the disabled and those who rely on emergency room procedures for their health care are costing everybody else," he said.

The congressman said there will be changes and additional improvements to the eventual legislation to be passed by both legislative chambers, but he insisted something had to be done to send the correct message.

"If we had not passed a bill on Saturday night, we would have made a statement to the insurance companies and the pharmaceutical companies that you can keep charging whatever you want to and we will keep paying," Berry said.

Berry said health care costs now represent one-sixth of the total U.S. economy and the percentage is rising. "Our economy cannot sustain that," he said.

"This was basically a vote to move the process forward," he said, noting the Senate will take different approaches in any bill they pass. After that happens, the bills will be sent to conference committee with the goal of working out legislation that both chambers eventually can support.

He doubts the Senate will pass any legislation before the Christmas break, predicting it will be "Valentine's Day or later" before conferees can reach joint agreement.

Berry said his support of the bill will put him in a position to help form compromises and changes as the legislation moves down the line. He is particularly interested in making sure provisions in the final legislation are fair to rural areas and small-market hospitals, such as those he represents in his district. Berry specifically mentioned the need to make Medicare reimbursement amounts more equitable where smaller hospitals are concerned.

Berry said the House bill includes provisions for negotiated prescription drug prices for Medicare, an item which will save an estimated $136 billion over 10 years.

While voting for the measure, Berry said there are some provisions he does not support and hopes will be changed or eliminated in any final legislation. He mentioned the surtax on high-income taxpayers and mandates on small businesses which do not currently provide health insurance. "There are good things and bad things in the current bill," Berry said, and he wants to play a role in correcting any deficiencies as the process moves forward.

Berry said HR 3962 is supposed to be "deficit-neutral" where the federal budget is concerned. "As far as can be calculated, that is the case," he said.

"If in the end we do not provide better health care at less cost, then we have failed," he said of Congress' challenge.

Berry was one of numerous Democrats in the House who insisted the final bill contain the provision that federal money will not be used to fund abortions. That change in the legislation appears to be a key factor in the eventual passage.

"This was an issue that is a lot bigger than health care," the congressman said.

"Abortion is still legal in this country," he added, "and if you want to pay for it yourself, it's up to you."

Berry said a strong provision in the bill, as far as he is concerned, is the impact it will have in opening up competition in the private insurance markets.

"Right now, the only industries exempt from anti-trust laws are Major League Baseball and the insurance companies," he said. "I don't know much about Major League Baseball, but why would the insurance industry be treated so special under the law?"

He said the House legislation would institute anti-trust regulations for health insurance companies in the future.

In looking at the financial aspects of health insurance, Berry said that, when reform was considered in 1993, the private insurance companies spent 5 percent on administration compared to 3 percent administrative costs for Medicare. Today, the private companies spend 30 percent on administration.

"You can see the huge profits," he said, noting the House measure would limit those costs to 15 percent.

Rep. Berry said doing nothing, in light of the current impact of health care cost on an already shaky economy, is not an option. "But there are people out there who just don't want to do anything," he added. "There is no question you often get more criticism when you are being pro-active on an issue."

Berry said similar opposition developed in the past to such measures as Social Security, Medicare and rural electrification. Berry said one long-time political observer in the past noted the viewpoint of some political leaders concerning rural electric cooperatives was "if those people want electricity, they should move to town." Berry said he continues to have to combat that type of anti-rural bias in Washington.

He said the number of calls and e-mails on the health care reform issue has been staggering.

"Everyone is entitled through the First Amendment to express their opinions," he said. "That is our system and it is good."

"But this is too important to make a decision solely on politics," Berry said. "If we don't get this right, nothing else is going to matter...we will move into an economic black hole."

Berry said there is a lot of "toxicity" in the current political atmosphere. "I am really disappointed that we are not setting aside politics and working more together on this...the issue is being used by both sides to try to gain an advantage. Washington, D.C. is a very partisan place and working together on joint agreements or compromise has pretty much been an impossible thing."

In the end, Berry said, the important consideration for him is to be able "to face your own people back home," adding that his ultimate goal is to do what is best for the average citizen in the First Congressional District of Arkansas.