So, I am not sure if you recall our discussion of one of the (many new) screwups SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States) effected recently. I am talking about its decision in Marietta Memorial Hospital Employee Health Benefit Plan v. DaVita Inc.
In a 7 to 2 decision, SCOTUS let a group health care plan (Marietta Memorial Hospital Employee Health Benefit Plan) omit its coverage for dialysis. At the time, Justice Kagan exhorted Congress to fix the statute so that this decision would be overturned.
And, if you can believe it, that is exactly what Congress is planning to do. (Notice: Congress seems to be shaking off its legislative slumber.) Not surprising, DaVita (the second largest dialysis provider) has been instrumental in the drafting of the revised law. (Key personnel in this action are its Chief Legal Officer, Kathleen Waters, and its lobbyist, Kelly Philson. You do know that DaVita spends some $ 4 million a year on lobbying, right?)
The proposed new law demands health care plans cover dialysis in an identical fashion to all other chronic illnesses. (Not surprisingly, it also includes enhance reimbursement to firms like DaVita for dialysis.)
The House bill), Restore Protections for Dialysis Patients Act (HR 8594), was introduced (17 bipartisan sponsors!) right before I left for my trip to Israel. The Senate version (submitted 3 August, still not posted on Thomas), S.4750- A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify and preserve the breadth of the protections under the Medicare Secondary Payer Act, is sponsored by both Senators Bob Menendez (D, NJ) and Bill Cassidy (R, LA).
.
As far as I am concerned, this is the same sort of process Congress needs to effect to reverse SCOTUS’ cancellation of Roe v. Wade- and the incredibly inane Citizen’s United decision.
How about it, Congress?
OMG that would affect many! How will they pay for it if not covered?
That IS the real question, Martha!!!! Thanks for adding to the discussion.