I'm not going to try and explain this because I can barely understand it myself, but thought you all might enjoy reading what the WH included in the FY 2010 budget that (I believe) allows for reconciliation to happen. I did not realize these provisions were already in place (that would effect future legislation) and would imagine I'm not the only one. Please feel free to jump in if you have any more info on the matter. ;)
My point is that they went to a WHOLE lot of work to make sure that was a part of the budget. Why do that unless you're planning on using it if you need to?
Related threads (big thanks to ProSense) ....
">KENT CONRAD: RECONCILIATION IS NOT OFF THE TABLE.
">"Obama’s budget...included language allowing for the use of...reconciliation...to pass health care"
SEC. 201. RECONCILIATION IN THE SENATE.
(a) Committee on Finance- The Senate Committee on Finance shall report changes in laws within its jurisdiction to reduce the deficit by $1,000,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2009 through 2014.
(b) Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions- The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions shall report changes in laws within its jurisdiction to reduce the deficit by $1,000,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2009 through 2014.
(c) Submissions- In the Senate, not later than October 15, 2009, the Senate committees named in subsections (a) and (b) shall submit their recommendations to the Senate Committee on the Budget. Upon receiving all such recommendations, the Senate Committee on the Budget shall report to the Senate a reconciliation bill carrying out all such recommendations without any substantive revision.
<snip>
TITLE III--RESERVE FUNDS
Subtitle A--Senate Reserve Funds
SEC. 301. DEFICIT-NEUTRAL RESERVE FUND TO TRANSFORM AND MODERNIZE AMERICA'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
(a) Transform and Modernize America's Health Care System- The chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may revise the allocations of a committee or committees, aggregates, and other appropriate levels and limits in this resolution, and make adjustments to the pay-as-you-go ledger that are deficit-neutral over 11 years, for one or more bills, joint resolutions, amendments, motions, or conference reports that are deficit-neutral, reduce excess cost growth in health care spending and are fiscally sustainable over the long term, and--
(1) protect families' financial health including restraining the growth of health premiums and other health-related costs;
(2) make health coverage affordable to businesses (in particular to small business and individuals who are self-employed), households, and governments, including by reducing wasteful and inefficient spending in the health care system with periodic reports on savings achieved through these efforts, and by moving forward with improvements to the health care delivery system, including Medicare;
(3) aim for quality, affordable health care for all Americans;
(4) provide portability of coverage and assurance of coverage with appropriate consumer protections;
(5) guarantee choice of health plans and health care providers to Americans;
(6) invest in prevention and wellness and address issues of health disparities;
(7) improve patient safety and quality care, including the appropriate use of health information technology and health data, and promote transparency in cost and quality information to Americans; or
(8) maintain long-term fiscal sustainability and pays for itself by reducing health care cost growth, improving productivity, or dedicating additional sources of revenue;
by the amounts provided in such legislation for those purposes, provided that such legislation would not increase the deficit over the period of the total of fiscal years 2009 through 2019.
(b) Other Revisions- The chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget may revise the allocations of a committee or committees, aggregates, and other appropriate levels and limits in this resolution for one or more bills, joint resolutions, amendments, motions, or conference reports that--
(1) increase the reimbursement rate for physician services under section 1848(d) of the Social Security Act and that include financial incentives for physicians to improve the quality and efficiency of items and services furnished to Medicare beneficiaries through the use of consensus-based quality measures;
(2) include measures to encourage physicians to train in primary care residencies and ensure an adequate supply of residents and physicians;
(3) improve the Medicare program for beneficiaries and protect access to outpatient therapy services (including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology services) through measures such as repealing the current outpatient therapy caps while protecting beneficiaries from associated premium increases; or
(4) promote payment policies that address the systemic inequities of Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement that lead to access problems in rural areas, including access to primary care and outpatient services, hospitals, and an adequate supply of providers in the workforce or that reward quality and efficient care and address geographic variations in spending in the Medicare program;
by the amounts provided in such legislation for those purposes, provided that such legislation would not increase the deficit over either the period of the total of fiscal years 2009 through 2014 or the period of the total of fiscal years 2009 through 2019.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c111:4:./temp/~c111taOmK1:e43379:
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