September 30th, 2008

Kaiser Network News has two recent reports on national healthcare legislation that would affect Pennsylvania.

The first concerns legislation that would increases federal Medicaid funding, including funding for state Medicaid programs.   Last week, the House approved a $60.8 billion economic stimulus package (HR 7110) that includes additional federal funds for Medicaid and other programs, with $14.7 billion going towards additional funds for state Medicaid programs.

The Senate also held a vote in consideration of a $56.2 billion second economic stimulus package (S 3604) that would have provided $19.6 billion in additional funds for state Medicaid programs, but fell short of the required 60 votes for approval. The bill also would have provided $1.2 billion for NIH.

Reports Kaiser, “As a result of the failure of the Senate version of the bill, the Senate likely will consider the House version, CongressDaily reports. According to the New York Times, the House version of the legislation “has little chance of becoming law on its own,” but “it could become a bargaining chip in negotiations between Congress and the White House over Mr. Bush’s $700 billion proposal to shore up the nation’s financial system.”

The second report concerns two bills related to healthcare for veterans.  The Senate has approved an amended version of a bill (S 2162) that would authorize programs designed to improve treatment for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental illnesses.  Among the bill’s provisions are $1.9 billion for VA healthcare facility projects; $60 million through fiscal year 2011 for VA to provide financial assistance to not-for-profit groups that help support low-income veterans who reside in permanent housing; and $8 million through FY 2012 for VA to conduct research into PTSD.

The Senate also approved an amended version of a bill (S 3023) that, among other provisions, would require VA to issue regulations for the notification of veterans who claim medical benefits about the status of their claims in simple terms, reports Kaiser.