Despite polls, Harkin optimistic about health care reform

NORTH LIBERTY - Polls showing voters think the economy is a higher priority than health care reform isn't dampening Sen. Tom Harkin's optimism that Congress will adopt significant health care reform legislation this year."One of the biggest drags on our economy is the health care system and people recognize that," the Iowa Democrat said after a weekend health care forum. Harkin told the AARP national town hall meeting in North Liberty that support for reform has reached a critical mass that will push Congress to act this year.There are many details to work out, but Harkin predicted the congressional plan will include a public health insurance option and, perhaps, an individual mandate requiring everyone to have health insurance.Although President Obama has urged Congress to send him a plan by fall, a recent poll found 36 percent of U.S. voters believe cutting the deficit is the president's most important priority. That's up from 32 percent in March, according to Rasmussen Reports.At the same time, the percentage of voters rating health care reform as the highest priority has fallen from 239 percent in March to 24 percent in Rasmussen's most recent poll.National AARP President Jennie Chin Hansen, who was on the program with Harkin, isn't sure the issues can be separated and, like the senator, believes Americans want to see changes in health care."The critical mass will retain its robustness because jobs are connected to health care," Chin Hansen said. "If they lose their jobs, they lose their health care."The fact health care costs have been outpacing inflation "means health care this really is an economic issue," he added.Harkin and Chin Hansen agreed that whatever Congress passes this year will need to be refined as it is implemented."Nothing stays the same," Harkin said. "There are certain fundamentals we ought to get right. There are other things that will require some tweaking in the future."Among those fundamentals, he said is the concept of everyone having a medical home, a public option and, probably, an individual mandate. To that, Chin Hansen adds universality and portability."We need to get the structure right at the beginning," she said.He expects insurance companies to fight the public option "tooth-and-nail," but expects that in the end, Congress will contract administration of a public option to an independent, non-profit entity."Public option" is largely undefined because there are so many opinions on what it should include."It's still subject to definition," Chin Hansen said. "It's a bit of a Rorschach right now."Harkin has changed his position on including an individual mandate. He wasn't for on, but now thinks "that's the only way to get these young people who are healthy and (think) 'Nothings ever going to happen to me so why should I pay for anything like that?' into the program."If there is an individual mandate, he said, the plan must include a subsidy for the low-income.

Sen. Tom Harkin

NORTH LIBERTY - Polls showing voters think the economy is a higher priority than health care reform isn't dampening Sen. Tom Harkin's optimism that Congress will adopt significant health care reform legislation this year.

"One of the biggest drags on our economy is the health care system and people recognize that," the Iowa Democrat said after a weekend health care forum. Harkin told the AARP national town hall meeting in North Liberty that support for reform has reached a critical mass that will push Congress to act this year.

There are many details to work out, but Harkin predicted the congressional plan will include a public health insurance option and, perhaps, an individual mandate requiring everyone to have health insurance.

Although President Obama has urged Congress to send him a plan by fall, a recent poll found 36 percent of U.S. voters believe cutting the deficit is the president's most important priority. That's up from 32 percent in March, according to Rasmussen Reports.

At the same time, the percentage of voters rating health care reform as the highest priority has fallen from 239 percent in March to 24 percent in Rasmussen's most recent poll.

National AARP President Jennie Chin Hansen, who was on the program with Harkin, isn't sure the issues can be separated and, like the senator, believes Americans want to see changes in health care.

"The critical mass will retain its robustness because jobs are connected to health care," Chin Hansen said. "If they lose their jobs, they lose their health care."

The fact health care costs have been outpacing inflation "means health care this really is an economic issue," he added.

Harkin and Chin Hansen agreed that whatever Congress passes this year will need to be refined as it is implemented.

"Nothing stays the same," Harkin said. "There are certain fundamentals we ought to get right. There are other things that will require some tweaking in the future."

Among those fundamentals, he said is the concept of everyone having a medical home, a public option and, probably, an individual mandate. To that, Chin Hansen adds universality and portability.

"We need to get the structure right at the beginning," she said.

He expects insurance companies to fight the public option "tooth-and-nail," but expects that in the end, Congress will contract administration of a public option to an independent, non-profit entity.

"Public option" is largely undefined because there are so many opinions on what it should include.

"It's still subject to definition," Chin Hansen said. "It's a bit of a Rorschach right now."

Harkin has changed his position on including an individual mandate. He wasn't for on, but now thinks "that's the only way to get these young people who are healthy and (think) 'Nothings ever going to happen to me so why should I pay for anything like that?' into the program."

If there is an individual mandate, he said, the plan must include a subsidy for the low-income.