Senate panel mulls health reform financing

Debate over how to pay for health care reform heated up at a May 12 hearing of the Senate Finance Committee. Ideas discussed included improving the efficiency of care delivery, encouraging more prevention and wellness programs, and increasing insurance market competition to keep costs down. The tax treatment of employer-provided health coverage drew strong reactions. Some experts argued that the current employee tax exclusion encourages unnecessary health spending. Employer and union groups countered that curbing the exclusion would undermine the employer-based health system.  (Select News, 13 May 2009)

• Full text of written statements from hearing (Senate Finance Committee, 12 May 2009)
• Replay of recorded hearing (Senate Finance Committee, 12 May 2009)

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