Voinovich Proposes Bill Aimed at Covering the Uninsured

Sen. George Voinovich on Monday held a roundtable discussion at the Cincinnati-based University Hospital to discuss a bill (S 2772) that would establish a national commission to help states fund experimental programs for expanding coverage for the uninsured. The commission would oversee grants to participating states and, after five years, would provide Congress with a report on the effectiveness of the states' proposals. Voinovich said the bill, which is co-sponsored by Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), would give states flexibility to experiment with health care programs that would reduce costs and meet the needs of their specific communities. Making coverage more affordable for the uninsured also would reduce health care costs for employers, according to Voinovich, who cited Arkansas as an example of a state that is using state and federal money to increase coverage for low-income small-business employees. The bill, called the Health Partnership Act, is endorsed by the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association and the National Governors Association. It has not yet been sent to the floor for debate or a vote