Russ Feingold on Health Care

Summary

Senator Feingold seeks a single-payer, government run system, but noted that the congress was not sufficiently suited to achieve one. He supports any measures to achieve this goal, including federal reimbursement of state plans that would enact a government program.

Senator Feingold supports a "strong" public option in the health care plan. He stated that the program would act as a single-payer system but without the name. He asserted that reform without a public option was not really reform. Although he had said that the use of reconciliation was not proper for such changes, he asked the Senate majority leader to use the reconciliation procedure to enact a public option.

Senator Feingold supported, voted for, and has campaigned on, the 2009 health care reform legislation. He has stated that not only is it an improvement to the health care of the US, but it also reduces the national debt. 

  

Health Care Now Act

In February of 2007, Senator Feingold introduced the Health Care Now Act, which would force the Senate Majority and Minority Leaders to introduced reform that provided universal coverage.

 

Business Coops

In March of 2007, Senator Feingold introduced legislation that would authorize grants to allow companies to co-ops.

Feingold and Collins' legislation would authorize grants to a group of businesses so that they could form group-purchasing cooperatives to obtain enhanced benefits, reduce health care costs, and improve quality. By pooling their experience and interests, employers involved in a coalition could better address tough issues like rising health insurance rates and the lack of comparable health care quality data.

 

SCHIP

In April of 2007, Senator issued a press statement where he noted his belief that states should be allowed to cover adults through State Children Health Insurance Program, and a letter sent to the committee working on SCHIP to keep those provisions.

The letter, co-signed by 23 Senators, requests that the Senate Finance Committee to maintain two provisions:

1. Make permanent a provision that allows eleven states to use up to 20% of SCHIP allotments to cover individuals previously enrolled in Medicaid.
2. Ensure that there is no change in current federal law permitting some states to provide adult coverage under SCHIP.

In July of 2007, Senator Feingold released a press statement noting his support for the reauthorization of the program.

 

State Based Health Care Reform Act

In April of 2007, Senator Feingold released a press statement noting legislation he was supporting which would grant money to states to allow them to innovate new policies for health care reform.

In October of 2007, Senator Feingold reiterated his support for a state based solution in a press statement.

“Many states have already begun to implement reforms on their own, and we believe that encouraging these innovative experiments could ultimately lead to a model or models for nation-wide change,” the members of Congress wrote. “Our approaches will harness the competition of ideas and the momentum being generated on the state level to advance possible solutions and create hard data from which to move forward. We encourage you to consider these approaches as part of the long term solution to providing high-quality, effective, and efficient health care to all Americans.”

 

Drug Reimportation

In May of 2007, Senator Feingold released a press statement noting his support for drug reimportation.

“I am disappointed that the Senate handed another victory to the pharmaceutical industry by passing an amendment that effectively gutted legislation to give Americans relief from outrageously high prescription drug prices. The reimportation of prescription drugs would help Americans gain access to the safe FDA-approved medications they need. I remain committed to helping Wisconsinites and all Americans receive the same prescription drug prices as consumers in many other countries.” 

 

Support for a single payer system

In March of 2007, Senator Feingold released a press statement noting his desire to instigate some manner of reform in health care, his support for a government run system, and previously introduced legislation to allow states to create single payer systems.

Feingold is a strong supporter of guaranteed health care coverage for all Americans and favors a state-based approach to achieving reform. Last year he introduced the State-Based Health Care Reform Act that provides states the flexibility to choose their own way of covering their residents, provided they meet specified minimum requirements. Additionally, the legislation is aimed at breaking the stalemate in Congress that has prevented the enactment of meaningful health care reform. Feingold worked to ensure that The Health Care Reform Reserve Fund would not prohibit the consideration of a state-based approach.

In June of 2009, Senator Feingold spoke at the Democratic Convention for Wisconsin and stated that he believes that a single payer system is favorable to the "current system." 

 In a May 2009 interview with Democracy Now, Senator Feingold stated that he does and always has supported a single payer system. He states that such a system would not be achievable with the current congress, but a system can be put in place to get there eventually.

 

 

Support for 2009 Health Care Reform and the Public Option

In June of 2009, Senator Feingold spoke on the Senate floor about his desire to see a public option included in the health care reform overhaul.

Today, I want to talk about one of the most important elements of any reform, and that is a strong public health insurance option. Frankly, I am disappointed that this has become the topic of so much controversy, because it is such a fundamental part of making sure we provide the reform that my constituents, and all Americans, deserve. Some have even suggested scrapping a public option in the interest of passing a bill with bipartisan support. I want to pass health care reform and I hope very much we can do so with bipartisan support. But I am not interested in passing health care reform in name only. I am not interested in a bill that allows us to somehow tell our constituents we have done something but doesn’t really address their concerns. We need real reform, and real reform means a strong public option.

In August of 2009, Senator Feingold released a statement declaring that reform without a public option wasn't really reform in anything other than name.

In October of 2009, Senator Feingold appeared on Face the Nation and stated that he supported the public option and would find it difficult to support a plan without a public option. He stated that the goal of reform for liberals was a single payer system.

In December of 2009, Senator Feingold issued a press statement and made a video noting his support for the passage of the legislation.

 

Health Care Reform Will Lower Deficit

In December of 2009, Senator Feingold released two press statements noting his belief that the health care reform legislation would reduce the the deficit by $130 Billion over 10 years.

“I am pleased that the Senate health care bill will decrease the deficit by $130 billion over the next ten years, and by another $650 billion in the ten years following that. This bill is not perfect but it has some good provisions; I strongly support the inclusion of a public health insurance option, rewarding physicians for the quality of care provided rather than the quantity of care, and expanding coverage to more than 30 million Americans who currently go without insurance. I plan to spend a significant amount of time in the coming days reviewing the bill, and look forward to the opportunity to strengthen the bill when the Senate begins debate on it.”

Tonight’s vote allows the Senate to address the number one issue raised at my annual listening sessions – health care, particularly the skyrocketing cost and difficulty accessing health care. The bill before the Senate is not perfect but it contains some good reforms, while expanding coverage to more than 30 million Americans who currently go without insurance. I am pleased that the bill will decrease the deficit by $130 billion over the next ten years, and by another $650 billion in the ten years following that. And, while it is not as strong as I would have preferred, I support the inclusion of a public health insurance option, as well as provisions rewarding physicians for the quality of care provided rather than the quantity of care, and ending the denial of coverage due to preexisting conditions. I look forward to the opportunity to strengthen the bill when the Senate returns after Thanksgiving.”

In January of 2010, Senator Feingold created a video responding to feedback that he had received about the legislation. He states in the video that he supports the public option, that the bill will lower the deficit, and that the bill will make health care in Wisconsin better.

 

 

On the Use of Reconciliation

In July of 2007, Senator Feingold issued a press statement noting his support for the Higher Education Access Act and his disapproval of the use of reconciliation to pass portions of legislation.

In October of 2009, Senator Feingold released a statement noting a letter that he signed onto with numerous other Democratic Senators. The letter asked the Senate Majority Leader to insert a public option into the final version of the health care reform legislation.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Russ Feingold and 29 other senators signed a letter today urging the inclusion of a public option in any health reform legislation that will be considered on the Senate floor. An additional 14 senators have expressed support for the public option through a resolution, letter, or by voting for a strong public option during committee markups.

In March of 2010, Senator Feingold released a press statement noting his support for the use of reconciliation to pass health care reform. He noted that the bill being passed would also reduce the deficit. 

I supported the reconciliation bill because it will further reduce the deficit while strengthening health care reform and cutting wasteful corporate welfare. The reconciliation bill also begins to eliminate the doughnut hole for Medicare Part D, which has shortchanged seniors for years. And it reforms the student loan system by eliminating handouts to banks and lenders, streamlining student loans and saving taxpayers nearly $61 billion in the process. These savings will go toward paying down the deficit and boosting the Pell Grant program, which gives critical assistance to young Americans to pursue a higher education.

In March of 2010, Senator Feingold spoke on the floor of the Senate about his support for the legislation and the need to pass additional legislation to fix the problems in the bill. He states that the combination of the bill the Senate originally passed, along with with reconciliation bill to fix that legislation and the bring college loans under full government control will create a better health care environment..

 

 

On Special Deals

At a listening session in 2009, Senator Feingold was asked about the deals given to some states to buy the votes of those Senators. He states that those deals will not be in the final version and he will not vote for it if they are in it.

 

Townhall on Health Care

In a January 2009 health care townhall, Senator Feingold is asked about statements that he has released which indicate that his response has been 50/50 on health care reform. Although the crowd there displays a show of hands which indicate that an overwhelming percentage of people in the meeting oppose the legislation. He then states that 90% of the response he has received has supported the reform.

 

Statements on 2010 re-election website

 

 

Statements on Official Website

 

 

Voting Record

2009-2010 Health Care Reform - Reconciliation

The 2009-2010 health care reform legislation passed through the Senate in three votes. The first was to end the filibuster, the second was to pass the Senate bill, and the third was to pass the reconciliation bill.

Due to the death of Senator Kennedy and the election of Senator Brown in Massachussetts, the Democrats no longer possessed the 60 vote majority to break a filibuster. A reconciliation bill was passed to unify the Senate and House version and to enact the legislation. Russ Feingold voted in favor of passage of the reconciliation bill.

2009-2010 Health Care Reform - Passage

After the cloture vote to end the filibuster, a vote was taken to pass the legislation called "Obamacare" by its opponents. Russ Feingold in favor of final passage of the legislation.

2009-2010 Health Care Reform - Cloture Vote

The first vote in the health care reform process was for cloture on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009. This bill was different from the version that had recently passed through the House. Both votes went down party lines with all Democrats supporting the legislation and all Republicans opposing it. Russ Feingold voted in favor of the reform by voting for cloture.

SCHIP

In addition to attempting overall health care reform, congress re-authorized SCHIP in 2009. SCHIP is a program to provide children with health care and fund it through tobacco taxes. The program passed with the full support of Democrats and roughly 1/4 of the Republicans. Russ Feingold voted in favor of SCHIP.

Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act

The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act sets up health requirements for tobacco products, sets labeling guidelines, requires tobacco companies to report the content of their products, and prescribes punishements for violating any rules. The measure passed the Senate 79-17. Russ Feingold voted in favor of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.

Amendment - Drug Reimportation

In July of 2006, a an amendment was voted on to prohibit the United States Customs and Border Protection from preventing an individual not in the business of importing a prescription drug from importing an FDA-approved prescription drug. Russ Feingold voted in favor of the amendment to prevent border patrol agents from taking prescription drugs from citizens crossing the border.

Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003

The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 is sometimes called Medicare Part D. It was a sweeping reform that created plans for the senior citizens to purchase prescription drugs. The bill passed the Senate 54-44 Russ Feingold voted against Medicare Part D.

 

Sponsored and Cosponsored Legislation

Session-111; Bill Number-S 369; Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act - Cosponsor

Amends the Clayton Act to make it unlawful for a person, in connection with the sale of a drug product, to be a party to any agreement resolving or settling a patent infringement claim in which: (1) an abbreviated new drug (generic) application filer receives anything of value; and (2) such filer agrees not to research, develop, manufacture, market, or sell the generic product for any period. Excludes a resolution or settlement that includes no more than the right to market the generic product prior to the expiration of the patent. Authorizes the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to exempt certain such agreements if they are in furtherance of market competition and for the benefit of consumers. Amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to set forth additional filing requirements related to agreements between a brand name drug company and a generic drug applicant. Requires the Chief Executive Officer or the company official responsible for negotiating any agreement to file a certification that materials filed with respect to such agreements are complete, final, and exclusive. Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide that forfeiture of the 180-day exclusivity period for the marketing of a generic drug occurs if there is a final decision of the FTC or the court that an agreement has violated this Act.

Session-111; Bill Number-S 525; A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the importation of prescription drugs, and for other purposes - Cosponsor

Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to revise provisions governing the importation of prescription drugs. Waives the limitation on importation of prescription drugs that have been exported from the United States. Prohibits the importation of a qualifying drug unless such drug is imported by: (1) a registered importer; or (2) an individual for personal use. Establishes registration conditions for importers and exporters.

Session-111; Bill Number-S 1681; Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Enforcement Act of 2009 - Cosponsor

Declares that nothing in the McCarran-Ferguson Act shall be construed to permit health insurance issuers or issuers of medical malpractice insurance to engage in any form of price fixing, bid rigging, or market allocations in connection with providing health insurance coverage or coverage for medical malpractice claims or actions. Makes this Act nonapplicable to any information gathering and rate setting activities of any state commission of insurance or any other state regulatory entity with authority to set insurance rates.

Session-110; Bill Number-S 242; Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act of 2007 - Cosponsor

A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the importation of prescription drugs, and for other purposes.

Session-110; Bill Number-S 316; Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act - Cosponsor

A bill to prohibit brand name drug companies from compensating generic drug companies to delay the entry of a generic drug into the market.

Session-109; Bill Number-S 2354; Medicare Prescription Drug Gap Reduction Act of 2006 - Cosponsor

A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to reduce the coverage gap in prescription drug coverage under part D of such title based on savings to the Medicare program resulting from the negotiation of prescription drug prices.

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