Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) introduced legislation in late-October to help end insurance coverage exclusions for pre-existing conditions for individuals and small-business owners.  The bill, S. 2236, is the companion to H.R. 2833 which was introduced by Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT) back in June.  Nancy Davenport-Ennis, NPAF President & CEO, called the legislation "an important step in the fight to eradicate pre-existing condition exclusions from the private insurance market."

The U.S. Senate on October 22nd adopted an amendment introduced by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) that provides an increase of $8 million for "patient navigator" services.  The amendment passed 88-3 and would provide funding for services that assist patients from underserved populations to navigate the healthcare system.  Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) recently requested $15 million to fund the Patient Navigator, Outreach and Chronic Disease Prevention Act passed in May 2005.  The Senate continues work on the Fiscal Year 2008 Labor/Health and Human Services/Education Appropriations bill. 

The Commonwealth Fund released a report on October 18th which explored three different approaches to healthcare reform.  Most health reform plans can be grouped under one of the following: tax incentives and the individual insurance market; mixed private-public group insurance with shared responsibility for financing; and public insurance.  The report concluded that a private-public approach is most feasible financially and politically.

In addition to exploring the three healthcare philsophies and current proposals developed by Presidential Candidates, the report analyzes the current health insurance system and why it fails to promote high performance.

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The House failed to override President Bush's veto of the state children's health insurance program (SCHIP) reauthorization on October 18th by a 273-156 vote.  Supporters of SCHIP were 13 votes short of overriding the veto.  Shortly after the House vote, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) stated that Congress would send President Bush another SCHIP bill within the next two weeks.  President Bush has said he is willing to negotiate with Congress on reauthorization of the program, however, he does not support the House and Senate compromise legislation which included an additional $35 billion in funding.