WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | Yarmuth and Guthrie on healthcare reform bill

Yarmuth and Guthrie on healthcare reform bill

By Maira Ansari - bio | email

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - Democratic leaders say they are closer to making affordable, quality health insurance available for every American. It's a polarizing issue, and two lawmakers in Kentucky have opposing views on the healthcare legislation currently being proposed.

House Democrats aren't saying whether they have enough support to pass their healthcare reform bill, but they're hoping to bring it to a vote next week.

"It will extend coverage to 96% of American people," said Democrat Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-03). "It will reduce the deficit by $104 billion over the next 10 years."

Democrats say the House Bill would:

• Cost $894 billion over 10 years.
• Subsidize insurance for poorer Americans.
• Cap annual out of pocket expenses.
• And prevent denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions.

Under the Democrat's plan, the sweeping changes would be financed by cutting Medicare and taxing wealthy Americans.

The House's version of a public option allows healthcare providers to negotiate reimbursement rates with the federal government, similar to how private insurance works.

Democrats may have enough votes to pass the bill, but Republicans want no part of it.

"I am not going to support the bill," said Republican Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02). “This will increase the cost of premiums who currently have health insurance. So you are raising taxes, cutting medicare, putting more burdens on the state. And raising premiums for everybody to try to get to universal coverage we want to be incremental about it."

Yarmuth says he's not surprised by Guthrie's attitude.

"I don't think it's likely we'll get any Republican votes," Yarmuth said. "I think that is unfortunate because a lot of the changes made in the bill were changes Republicans insisted on."

One issue remaining to be resolved in the House bill is controversial language about funding abortion.

Recently there has been a push among some Democrats to prohibit federal funding of abortions under new healthcare reforms. 

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