Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 16, 1993 TAG: 9309160102
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Knight-Ridder/Tribune
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
The proposal, which reflects many of the priorities of Republican moderates, amounts to a serious counteroffer in the opening round of bargaining with Clinton.
"It's not a Band-Aid, but it's not major surgery, either," said Senate Republican leader Bob Dole of Kansas, one of 23 Republicans sponsoring the plan. "Republicans are committed to real, measurable, permanent reform of our health-care system."
If Clinton's plan represents one end of the spectrum across which a compromise is possible, the Republican proposal represents the other.
Clinton will formally release his plan next Wednesday.
Unlike Clinton's, the Senate Republican plan would not require employers to cover their workers. It would put off coverage for all until 2000, instead of 1997, as the Clinton plan proposes. It also would provide slimmer benefits. For example, instead of a new long-term care program, the Republicans would provide a tax deduction for long-term care expenses.
Like Clinton's, the GOP plan would rely heavily on Medicare and Medicaid savings to pay for coverage for the uninsured. But the Republicans would use government-provided vouchers and tax deductions, not employer contributions.
People who receive costly, benefit-rich health plans from their employers would be taxed on part of the value of their insurance, with the revenue going toward expanding coverage for the uninsured.
The Republican plan would raise $213 billion over five years from Medicare and Medicaid savings and about $100 billion from taxes on high-cost health-care plans. Clinton's plan was attacked for proposing $238 billion in cuts from the two programs.
As would Clinton, the Senate Republicans would set up health alliances - insurance purchasing co-ops for small businesses and individuals. But in the Republican plan, employers would not be required to join them.
"We want to pay tribute to Mrs. Clinton," said Sen. John Chafee, R-R.I., referring to Hillary Rodham Clinton, chairwoman of the administration's health-care reform task force. "They've got some good ideas. I believe we can work together to come up with some compromises."
When asked if that included accepting a requirement that employers provide insurance coverage, Chafee did not rule it out.
by CNB