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Margaret “Maggie” Williams' Subject Files
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Files of Neera Tanden,
Associate Director of Domestic Policy
and Sr. Policy Advisor to the First Lady
Box 1: Files
Archived from 2nd Floor West Wing by Eric Woodard on January 1, 2001
Correspondence
Violence/Drugs
- Youth Development/Afterschool/Violence
Health - Groups
- Health Reform
Health Care - DNC
- Health Reform
Health Care - Task Force
- Health Reform
Health Care - Meetings
- Health Reform
Health Care - Correspondence
- Health Reform
Health Care - Correspondence Unit
- Health Reform
Health Care - Interoffice Memorandum
- Health Reform
Enclosures filed in # 20357
Oversize Attachments
Health Care - Personnel
- Health Reform
NARA # 17590
Health Care - Talking Points/Task Force
- Health Reform
Health Care - Scheduling
- Health Reform
Health Care - Media
- Health Reform
Health Care - Legislature
- Health Reform
Health Care - Legal
- Health Reform
Dick Celeste
Media
SMALL
DEPARTMENT
HC-business U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
ADMINISTRA 1953
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20416
OFFICE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Christine Varney
Deputy Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary
FROM:
Erskine B. Bowles, Administrator Amler
RE:
Health Security Act
DATE:
October 15, 1993
As Administrator, I have talked to thousands of small businesses over the last three
months. Whether it was talking to an employer or an employee, health care was by far their
greatest concern. The rate of increase in the cost of health care for small businesses is 50%
higher than the rate of increase for big businesses. Educating the small business community
will be critical to the success of the Administration's effort to communicate the need for
national health care reform.
Since the President's introduction of the Health Security Act, the Small Business
Administration has been committed to educating and informing the small business community
on what the plan will mean to their business.
We identified programs and communication vehicles to determine how we could
incorporate the importance of universal health care as a theme. In doing so, we have already
committed significant funds ($100,000) from the Agency's budget to begin educating small
businesses on the specifics of the Health Security Act, and its probable impact on their
businesses. We have a plan for reaching out further to our constituency, but we are unable to
commit any additional funds at this time.
The SBA is enthusiastic about what health care reform will mean to small business.
In order to communicate the benefits of health care reform properly, however, we will need
additional resources from other government Departments. Together we can reach the greatest
number of constituencies with little or no duplication in our combined effort.
2
It is fitting that other Departments allocate proportionate resources to communicating
about the health care reform effort. Since Departments have much larger budgets and staff
than SBA their "proportionate" contributions should be substantial (Commerce alone is 25
times our size). Shifting some of these resources to our "small business" effort would make a
great deal of sense and have a very positive impact.
Here are some of the steps we have taken thus far:
Brochure: Health Security Act - Benefits for Business
This 10-page brochure was designed to be used in a number of different ways: as an
informational document; as a format for a speech; or, as talking points.
Our first printing, on September 27, consisted of 150,000 copies. On September 28,
we sent out 10,000 copies (1,000 per) to our ten Regional Offices; 53,000 copies to our
District Offices; and 6,300 to our Branch Offices. We also sent shipments to the sites of our
four upcoming SBA Town Hall Meetings, in Portland, Cleveland, Houston, and Denver.
Along with the Commerce Department, we hand-delivered a copy to each member of
the House and Senate. In addition, we provided the White House Communications Office
with 1,000 copies, and the Office of Public Liaison with 4,000 copies. (See attachment
entitled "Distribution of Brochure".)
By October 6, we had completed a shipment to each of our 536 SCORE (Service
Corps of Retired Executives) chapters around the country, and also had sent 100 to each of
our 56 lead Small Business Development Centers, and to several hundred women's business
organizations.
The brochure has also been sent to Department Chiefs of Staff. It was sent in disk
format with the hope that all federal employees will take the time to read it on their own
computer.
Health Security Act Worksheet/Computer Program:
We have developed a computer software program which allows us to input data on an
individual small business -- its number of employees, payroll costs, average annual salary,
and annual insurance cost - and then calculate their estimated projected cost under the Health
Security Act. We successfully used this program during our briefing for 50 small
businesspeople which we held at the SBA the day after the President's speech. In addition,
this same program will be used when people call our 800 number. We have also sent this
worksheet out to all of our District Directors and 70 district offices so they can begin
compiling health insurance information on small businesses for our database.
3
1-800 Number:
We are expanding the capabilities of our existing SBA Answer Desk (1-800-U-ASK-
SBA) so that small businesses will be able to call in and get information about the Health
Security Act. A caller dialing this number will be asked to choose from a number of options,
which automatically routes it to the Health Care Hotline. We have set up a local area
network with 10 workstations to handle the software used for the computations in the
program described above. The information will be obtained from the callers and entered into
the database, which can be used for analysis or for follow-up activities. The people staffing
the hotline also will have the capability from their workstations to FAX the caller a copy of
their worksheet, and an electronic version of the brochure (as is available via SBA ON-LINE,
described below). We are preparing to have 10 to 25 workstations operational and staff
trained as soon as possible. We anticipate 300-500 calls daily. However, having already
expended $100,000 on this project, we do not have adequate funding to operate this 800
number and need other Departments to share in its cost.
When the Health Security Act Information Service is operational, we will develop a
"hypertext" type feature as an aid for our information providers. This is an on-line help
window that the user can invoke after each entry filed. Each help window would provide
clarification or Q&As related to the information in that field. Creating this help feature is
essentially a software-writing task which we can perform internally over a two to three week
period.
SBA "On-Line":
This is the SBA's electronic bulletin board that is accessible by anyone with a
microcomputer and a modem. The service is provided free via an 800 number. SBA ON-
LINE is being modified to allow callers the option of going to a section of the bulletin board
where they can view or download to their individual computers a copy of the Health Security
Act brochure. We also are establishing a mailbox on the bulletin board, where callers can
leave comments regarding health care. This information will be analyzed by our trained
staff and an immediate response will be sent via modem. We also can provide the capability
for SBA staff to interactively communicate via computer with people calling the bulletin
board. This might be something we would do periodically with updates on Health Security
Act legislation. In addition, we plan to set up a mechanism to collect basic information from
the callers that can go into a database to be used for analysis or for follow-up activities.
Associations Database:
To date, we have contacted over 100 small business-related associations to obtain
information on their annual meetings and their publications, and plan to send them copies of
the brochure, along with articles on small business and health care. After reviewing all
association/trade speaking dates we will work closely with the "War Room" to identify the
appropriate keynote speakers for specific events.
4
Part II: 1-800 Number Cost Estimates
These are the cost estimates for two options to provide Health Security Act
information services to small business callers. We cannot reliably estimate the number of
calls we will receive or the average length of each call. Assumptions have been made for
discussion purposes and to create a budget estimate.
ASSUMPTIONS: (for both options)
-Full service operation 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Mon-Fri.
using two shifts (9-3; 3-9)
-All phone lines in continuous use
-Salaries based on SBA Agency-wide average
-10 minute average call length during full service hours
. Option #1: Call Processing System
This system will answer calls on 25 incoming lines, provide menu-based information,
transfer a caller to an operator for estimated cost calculations, or ask caller to hold if all
operators are busy. System will feed 12 "on hold" callers to the next of the available 25
operators.
EQUIPMENT COSTS (One time only)
Microlog Call Processing Hardware
$24,900
Phones & Headsets
7,500
25 Microcomputers
67,500
Fax server, cabling, misc. hardware
31,000
Fax machines & lines
7,400
Phone line installation
2.500
TOTAL
$140,800*
*(SBA expenditure to date: $42,500)
RECURRING COSTS
PHONE LINES:
1-800 lines (during full service hours Mon-Fri
9 a.m.-9 p.m.)
$186,480
1-800 lines (info messages during off-hours,
after 9 p.m. and Sat-Sun 24 hours)
108,864
LABOR:
50 FTE
633,000
Recurring total
928,344
+ equipment total
140,800
Total Estimated Cost over 3 months
$1,069,144
5
CAPACITY:
-25 simultaneous operator assisted calls
-12 calls holding for next available operator
-Up to 9,000 operator-assisted calls per week
during 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. period; 4,500 on hold
for next available operator
. Option #2: Direct Call System
ASSUMPTIONS: (as in 1. above)
-Full service operation 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Mon-Fri.
using two shifts (9-3; 3-9)
-All phone lines in continuous use
-Salaries based on SBA Agency-wide average
-10 minute average call length during full service hours
This is direct person-to-operator calling with no pre-recorded intermediate answering
system. This system has no "on hold for next operator" capability and no off-hours message
capability. All callers after #26 will get a busy signal; after hours callers will get no pickup
or response.
EQUIPMENT COSTS (One time only)
Phones & Headsets
7,500
25 Microcomputers
67,500
Fax server, cabling, misc. hardware
31,000
Fax machines & lines
7,400
Phone line installation
2.500
TOTAL
$115,900
RECURRING COSTS
PHONE LINES:
1-800 lines (during full service hours. M-F,
9 a.m. - 9 p.m.; No off-hour message or
$126,000
information service)
LABOR:
50 FTE
633,000
Recurring total
759,000
+ equipment total
115,900
Total Estimated Cost over 3 months
$874,900
6
CAPACITY:
-25 simultaneous operator assisted calls
-Up to 9,000 operator-assisted calls per week
during 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. period
[A third option considered was an interactive voice response system which would collect
information by prerecorded questions which the customer would respond to via touch-tone
phone input. Operator Assistance would be available as an option. We have decided to
exclude this system from consideration because it would require 45-60 days to develop, and
we believe the complexity of these issues merits more immediate operator assistance.]
Distribution of "The Health Security Act: Benefits for Business"
Department of Commerce
23,800
SBA Regional Offices
10,000
SBA District Offices
53,000
SBA Branch Offices
6,300
Portland, OR (town hall meeting)
350
Cleveland, OH (town hall meeting)
350
Des Moines, IA District Office
400
New York District Office
400
Houston, TX District Office
500
Houston, TX (town hall meeting)
350
Other Executive Departments/Agencies
300
White House Office of Communications
1,000
White House Office of Public Liaison
4,000
Democratic National Committee
10,000
Mailing to SCORE, SBDCs and WBOs
19,200
appoarent attempt to break has
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nuston, ma 02161
medial system and self
September 14 1993
serving disrespect by members
more of a Clintonite thanks
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Dear Dick
Democrat.
I write to express my
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would go on to Decome a crs-
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a volunteer
It has been very difficult
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the Presidents program and a tic
BC/ARC
ROUTON 101>
Rosemarie Marshall Johnson. M. D.
Board of
Fost Office Box 82807
San Diego. California 92135-2809
Telephone 10101 505-9660
September 28, 1993
Governor Richard F. Celeste
Chair, National Health Care Campaign
430 S. Capitol Street, S.E.
3rd Floor
Washington, D.C. 20003
Dear Governor Celeste:
I entered the meeting at the UCSD University Hospital with a healthy skepticism for the President's
healthcare agenda. I was moved by your insight, cogent reading of health matters, and person anecdotes
that to me confirmed your strength as a leader. Your revelation of family medical matters and the brief
but poignant and insightful mention of the lessons of failure won my admiration and attention. 1 thought
we'd merely be fed the party line, the acceptable speech on doing good for our brethren (and sistren?)
but I was happy to be wrong.
I still believe in the ideals of my profession after almost thirty years of practice and half that in medical
advocacy (read politics). And I believe you want to do good things for our wonderful country. You are
a superb emissary for our President and his program and bridge a gap I previously felt. As incoming
President of the San Diego County Medical Society, I pledge honest effort to make the reform of
healthcare delivery viable here.
I had planned to form a committee called "Medicine in Transition" at our medical society and have asked
Jeff Morris to help. I also had just written an opinion editorial for The San Diego Union-Tribune on
neighborhood meetings of health experts and citizens aimed towards getting smart together. Your words
were the final push I needed to move on these projects.
We have particular problems in San Diego, as every region does. I am very interested in border health
issues and have represented the California Medical Association (as a Trustee) on this issue for the past
five years. This is an extremely important aspect of health care for us, as you know. I am making this
another focus of our agenda at the Medical Society.
I believe all of us have to invest significant effort in making decisions about the development of this reform.
Neither the President nor American physicians want unhappy, unhealthy citizens. Please keep us
informed and let me know how we can help here in San Diego.
Sincerely,
Rosemarie Marshall Johnson, M.D.
President-Elect, San Diego County Medical Society
RMJ:p
White Bulletin
Bill Frenzel, agreed to "most" of the demands. One exception, apparently, is the one which called for the
agreements to be "in writing."
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a circus." According to a third: "Since the very beginning, many of US who were accustomed to politice
appointees who had 8 degree of reverence for this institution have been disgusted by the behavior
many of the Clintonites. Quite a few come to work in casual closes and act like this is party central,
PHOTOCOPY
3
PRESERVATION
HIAA
D&H TOTAL TO Dick Health Celeste Insurance Association of America DATE 9/29/93
FROM Bun Prodesing
SUBJECT
"Blaclemail"?
B.
-
10/1 rec'd
POLITICAL DISPATCHES
Lobbyists ready for health care hardball
By Amy Bayer
lines of his reform plan. According
stitute.
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE
to observers close to the process, it
The industry is targeting law.
was hardball lobbying that filled in
makers from blue-collar districts,
Dr. Benjamin Stohlman has a new
most of the details.
arguing that a beer tax could cost a
bumper sticker on his Acura: "If you
Mr. Clinton added expensive
lot of votes in the vast middle class
like the Postal Service, you'll love
benefits for prescription drugs and
The anti-beer-tax campaign re-
Hillary's health care plan."
long-term care after a pointed warn-
sembles hundreds being played out
"I've never marched on Washing-
ing from the American Association
by interests as diverse as medical
ton for anything," said Dr. Stohlman,
of Retired Persons that its 33 million
equipment manufacturers, plastic
who is by his own account so
members would not back a plan
surgeons, ambulance drivers and
apolitical he has never joined the
without them.
epileptics.
American Medical Association
To mollify organized labor, he
"But I'm so angry I'd walk the
Nearly every interest group has
postponed plans to tax some work-
halls of Congress," said the 47-year-
lined up lobbyists to pressure mem-
ers' health benefits, a proposal cen-
old Baltimore cardiologist. "It's
bers on Capitol Hill. The law firm of
tral to Mr. Clinton's "managed com-
enough to make me a lobbyist."
Patton, Boggs and Blow, for exam-
petition" method to reduce costs.
Dr. Stohlman has plenty of com-
ple. is lobbying on health care for no
Mr Clinton abandoned plans to
pany As President Clinton puts the
fewer than three dozen clients.
cap doctor and hospital fees rather
finishing touches on his controver.
than risk alienating those extremely
But on this bill, more than any
sial health care plan. a legion of lob-
powerful lobbies.
other, the target is outside Washing
byists, professional and otherwise,
The president promised subsidies
ton.
is gearing up for perhaps the biggest
in small-business owners, who
"The best lobby efforts begin at
lobbying blitz in history
would be forced to buy health insur-
home," said Michael Bromberg. di-
Millions of dollars already have
ance for their employees. And he of-
been spent to defend. fight or re-
"There are so many
rector of the American Federation
fered an unexpected bonus to larger
of Health Care Systems. "When push
write the president's plan before it
businesses by proposing that the
lobbyists up here I
comes to shove, members usually
even lands on Capitol Hill.
government assume 80 percent of
vote how the folks at home want
And with a $900 billion industry at
the health care costs for early re-
think the line forms
them to."
stake, the battle has just begun.
tirees.
somewhere in
Beer makers plan to put signs in
"There are so many lobbyists up
"The administration is playing
liquor stores and use their delivery
here 1 think the line forms some-
good politics," said AARP lobbyist
Virginia."
trucks as rolling billboards, advis-
where in Virginia," joked Sen. John
John Rother "You want to have
- Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV
ing drinkers that new taxes will hit
D. Rockefeller IV. a leading reform
something to offer everyone."
them in the wallet.
advocate
The lobby campaign now moves to
Perhaps the most heated cam-
Among the players in the health
Congress. which offers a far warmer
paign is being waged by the health
care lobbying game are health pro-
reception for lobbyists than a White
Even the winners under Mr. Clin-
insurance industry "If they choose,
fessionals, universities, disease sup-
House that has threatened to "take
ton's plan are gearing up for a fight.
we lose," it warns in a $2 million tele.
port groups. scientists, veterans,
on" special interests.
The beer industry, for example,
vision ad intended to make Amer-
unions, religious groups, ethnic
"They shut us out completely."
was greatly relieved that the pres.
icans think twice about changing
groups, and nearly every business
said Sean Sullivan of the National
ident did not include a six-pack tax
plans.
and industry
Business Coalition on Health. refer-
to help pay for new health benefits.
The White House predicted the
"Everybody is getting into the
ring to the presidential health care
"I've been around this town long
onslaught but views it with some in-
game," said Common Cause Presi-
reform task force. "Once the plan
enough to know that Congress could
dignation.
dent Fred Wertheimer
hits Capitol Hill, it's an open book.
come a-knocking when they're look.
"Essentially, they're trying to
When Mr. Clinton took office. he
We believe we can change it. and
ing for more money." said Raymond
blackmail us." said Ira Magaziner.
had already decided the broad out.
we're not alone."
McGrath. president of the Beer In-
Mr. Clinton's top health care adviser.
Fileste
1
redd 9129
HIAA
Health Insurance Association of America
TO Didk Celeste
DATE 9/28/93
FROM Bur G.
SUBJECT
Dr this the response to
our "good faith efforts" ??
Bur
\
White House Seeks Insurance
Firm Curbs During Transition
HEALTH, From A1
transition period or are unable to
buy insurance because they have a
pre-existing health condition would
be able to purchase coverage
through the Department of Health
and Human Services.
The HHS-sponsored plan would be
funded by the premiums it charged
consumers. But if the premiums were
insufficient, the government would
force all insurance companies and
large companies that operate their
own health plans to contribute as
well, according to the draft.
The HHS-sponsored plan would
use the Medicare payment rates to
reimburse hospitals and doctors
treating its members.
Several states, including Missouri,
currently have state-run plans to in-
sure people who have been turned
away or charged high rates by pri-
vate insurance companies because
they have medical conditions that
required expensive treatment. In
general, these "state risk pools," as
they are called, have not kept up with
the demand for coverage.
Under Clinton's plan, insurance
companies would not be prohibited
from raising premiums. But the in-
creases could not be applied to a
small class of customers, such as
prohibit employers "from reducing
the elderly. The premium increases
existing coverage for any medical
would have to apply uniformly to all
condition or course of treatment" if
customers within what the insur-
the cost of that treatment is likely
ance companies refer to as either
to exceed $5,000 a year, according
the small group market-individ-
to the draft.
uals or small businesses-or within
One way insurance companies
the large group market-usually
have made money is to select only
medium-to-large firms.
the best "risks"-younger, healthier
The rules would also apply to
people that the insurer believes will
companies that self-insure and to
not need medical care. Conversely,
companies that join together to buy
some companies have found ways to
insurance as a group.
avoid insuring "bad risks"-usually
To ensure that employers who
elderly people or women in their
pay much of their employees' cov-
child-bearing years.
erage do not cut back on coverage
"We don't want to make risk se-
of sick employees, the plan would
lection worse," Magaziner said.
20F2
HIAA
WASHINGTON POST
Insurance
9/27/93
Curbs Asked
For Interim
Administration Seeks
Stable Coverage During
Health Plan Transition
The administration's proposal, if
enacted by Congress, also would
immediately limit the amount insur-
ers could charge some individual
By Dana Priest
new subscribers and existing pol-
Washington Post Staff Writer
icyholders. It would also prohibit
President Clinton, as part of his
companies from terminating or fail-
health care reform proposal, wants
ing to renew health insurance cov-
Congress to prohibit insurance
erage for any insured person or
companies from dropping sick sub-
group, according to a draft of the
scribers or selectively raising their
plan.
premiums during the three years
The interim measure would mean
before his plan would be fully im-
that insurance companies would not
plemented.
be allowed to drop coverage of
Clinton also wants Congress to
small businesses or individuals, for
set up a government-sponsored in-
instance, while maintaining cover-
surance plan for consumers who
age for large-sized firms.
cannot buy private coverage during
"That appears to me totally con-
the transition period.
tradictory to their overall goals of
Both measures reflect the admin-
consolidation," said Linda lenckes,
istration's belief that health insur-
lobbyist for the Health Insurance
ers, faced with declining profits be-
Association of America, referring to
cause of impending reform, might
the president's other goal of weed-
price-gouge or drop coverage for
ing out inefficient, wasteful health
sick people who need medical ser-
plans.
vices during the transition period
By requiring companies to renew
between the time Congress passes
all policies and restricting their rate
Clinton's proposal-if it does-and
adjustments, "you really could run
full implementation of it.
the risk of making a company insol-
The administration has said it
vent" if health costs go up, Jenckes
would like the plan to be up and
said.
running in all states by the end of
If the proposals are enacted, peo-
1997, although Hillary Rodham
ple who lose their health insurance,
Clinton recently suggested the
for whatever reason, during the
White House was open to a later
See HEALTH, A6, Col. 1
date.
"We want to prevent the insur-
ance market from becoming unsta-
ble during the interim," top White
House health adviser Ira Magaziner
said in an interview yesterday. "We
want to prevent them from raising
prices in a profiteering manner or
selectively" dropping the more ex-
pensive policyholders, who usually
are people with existing medical
conditions and the elderly.
10F2
HIAA
BASHINGTON
SEP 2893
: 1029
Health Insurance Association of America
1025 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington. DC 20036-3998
THE HONORABLE RICHARD CELESTE
Democratic National Committee
430 South Capitol Street, S.E.
Washington, D.C.
20003
!!!!! TENE
ree'd 1014
HIAA
Health Insurance Association of America
TO Dids Celeste
DATE 10/1/93
FROM Bun
SUBJECT
am 9 beating a
dead horse ?
Bur
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Barbara Gracey
September 30, 1993
HIAA
202/223-7782
Health Insurance Association of America
STATEMENT OF BILL GRADISON, PRESIDENT OF THE HEALTH INSURANCE
ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA ON HILLARY CLINTON'S TESTIMONY TO SENATE
LABOR AND HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE
The Clinton Administration continues to try to portray the
health insurance industry as the scapegoat in the debate over
health care reform (see attached article from the 9/27 White
House Bulletin).
Yesterday, in hearings, Hillary Clinton was quoted as saying
"the heavy administrative percentages that you will find in the
private sector insurance market is due to a very clear decision,
which is, the more money we can spend making sure we don't insure
people who might cost us money, the more money we will make..."
The facts are -- the insurance industry wants to broaden
coverage so all Americans have universal, cradle-to-grave
coverage. Reforms that the health insurance industry advocates
now, and advocated before President Clinton came into office,
would eliminate the need for any underwriting in bringing people
into the system.
In addition, since 1976, profits for commercial health
insurers have averaged less than 2 cents on the dollar. During
that same time, the number of people with private health
insurance has increased by more than one million. Clearly,
insurers are neither profiteering nor trying to insure fewer
people.
###
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THE WHITE HOUSE
BULLETIN
9/27/93
BULLETIN BROADFAXING NETWORK. 625 KING STREET. ALEXANDRIA. VA 22314 (703) 684-2020
assessment system hasn't changed in 20 years.
The plans of the Clinton Administration to bar insurance companies from dropping coverage for
sick people or raising their premiums during the transition to a new health care system may also
have 8 political benefit While the Clinton team reportedly believes the insurance companies may take
advantage of the period between now and when the larger reforms kick in by trying to Increase profils,
if also sees an opportunity to use the industry as a political foil, painting the companies and other
opponents of the Clinton plan as greedy special interests wanting to hold on to the status quo. "Go back
to the beginning of the campaign," a White House official told the Bulletin this morning. "We attacked
two type of companies from the very beginning: the insurance companies and the drug companies. This
is not a change in strategy. This is not some new strategy." The official concluded: "Number one, it is
the same strategy. And number two, its the truth. If there are any villains out there who the American
people can't stand, its the insurance companies and the drug companies."
Reportedly, the Clinton plan would:
:
Bar insurers from cutting off anyone's health insurance for any reason "except for non-payment
of premiums or other strictly defined cause."
-
Require insurers to develop a single rate manual with only three categories; individuals, groups
of fewer than 100 and larger groups. Any premium increases would have to apply equally to all
three.
I
Forbid exclusions for pre-existing conditions for new employees and their families who had
insurance in the previous 90 days. If they had been uninsured, only medical conditions that
occurred in the previous six months would be grounds for exclusion.
-
Ban employers from imposing waiting periods for coverage on eligible employees.
I
Prohibit employers and insurers from reducing coverage for AIDS or any other disease expected
to cost more than $5,000 a year to treat.
-
Also, the government may set up a national risk pool for sick people who lose coverage or
cannot buy new coverage during the transition.
0
Congressional committee chairmen on Capitol Hill are competing 10 have Hillary Rodham Clinton
address them first, and longest, reports a White House official. This official told the Bulletin: "The
committees are in a bidding war to see who can get her first and for how long. I wouldn't be surprised
if there is going to need to be a little health care provided up on the Hill after these chairmen finish with
each other to see who can get her First." The official added: "There are some bruises already, and 1 am
not just talking about egos. Think of the publicity she brings to them." As for what the First Lady will say,
considering the actual While House legislation won't be sent up to the Hill for another couple of weeks,
the official said: "She will have plenty to say. It will definitely be worth watching. There will be some
more details, but there will also be statements of rhetorical interest. The tone will be every bit as
important, if not more important, than the details.
0
The "entitlement summir" which President Clinton promised Rep. Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky
will most likely take place In late November, according to informed sources. One Administration
source told the Bulletin: "While we do not yet have a political strategy for this high profile meeting, we
are starting to prepare the substantive side of the issue of entitlement controls. A lot will depend upon
the specifics of the President's recision package in October. Obviously, the President will want to make
the most out of the need to first control health care spending. Vice President Gore, who told the
Congresswoman he also would try to attend, will want to emphasize reinventing government." But
another source close to the planning for this event said that "we think the conference will be very eye
opening to most Americans when they realize how generous middle and upper class entitlements
are. The unfortunate part of the whole propaganda war about budget cuts, from Republicans and
Democrats, is trying to convince people that if only we got rid of fraud, waste and abuse, WG could solve
the budget problem. It is just not true, and we have got to decide that if we really want to help our
3
HIAA
S
OCT 1 93
÷ 9
Health Insurance Association of America
1025 Connecticut Avenue. NW
Washington, DC 20036-3998
THE HONORABLE RICHARD CELESTE
Democratic National Committee
430 S. Capitol Street, SE
Washington, D.C. 20003
111 un