From: clarinews@clarinet.com (HELEN THOMAS, UPI White House Reporter)
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Message-id: <healthcareU2A6230pe@clarinet.com>
Subject: Administration rules out major health care reform this year
Keywords: usa federal, government, health, politics
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 92 11:36:50 PDT
ACategory: washington
Slugword: healthcare
Priority: regular
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	WASHINGTON (UPI) -- The administration has ruled out passage of a
major comprehensive health care reform proposal this year ``because we
don't want to make any mistakes,'' a top-ranking official said Monday.
	The official, who requested anonymity, told United Press
International in an interview that White House domestic policy advisers
meet every week on the issue and are getting comments in the market
place on ``a first-rate private sector proposal.''
	As his re-election campaign got under way, President Bush, getting
the ``wake up'' call that health care would be a key issue, outlined a
plan on Feb. 6 to provide low- and middle-income tax credits or tax
deductions to help pay for health insurance. He also proposed reforms
for the small group insurance market to make it easier to buy insurance.
	But Bush has yet to send to Congress detailed legislation on how to
finance the proposals that reportedly would cost $35 billion annually.
	``We're not going to have a major comprehensive health care reform
package this year of the magnitude, you know, that most people think is
necessary,'' the official said.
	``We may make a start at it.'' he added. ``We won't finish it. It's
just too big. Hell, we're in April and they're (Congress) going to go on
recess in July.
	``One thing the American people must understand before we go forward
on health care,'' he said. ``What we are doing is restructuring a major
component of our domestic economy. And we've got to be very careful as
we go forward that we don't make any mistakes.''
	The official explained that the administration does not want to get
burned on the issue and to have its proposals suffer the same fate as
the law that boosted Medicare payments to take care of castrophic
illness. A major revolt was launched by the elderly in the wealthier
categories who had to pay higher premiums and the act was repealed.
	``Everybody is very sensitive as a result as to what happened to
catastrophic (health care) and they don't want to make that mistake
again,'' the official said. ``And you're talking about restructuring
much greater than they did in catastrophic.''
	``So I think we have to gradually move this forward,'' he said ``We
may have some restructuring this year in a small market ... a small
company market or a small business market.
	``But what we've got to do is to make sure we don't make any
mistakes,'' he added. ``We've got to make sure we don't rush into it for
political reasons. We've got a good proposal. So let's validate that
proposal out in the market place. Get the thoughts to make it better,
and come forward with legislation.
	``When it's ready, it's ready. But we're not going to send up a piece
of legislation just because it's politically opportune to do so. It's
got to be thought out. It's got to be validated by the private sector. .
..''
	Rising premium costs and concern of workers that they may lose their
insurance benefits if they change jobs as well as the fact that some 36
million Americans have no coverage has made health care reform a top
issue that is confronting the presidential.
	Democratic congressional leaders have accused Bush of lagging in
presenting a bill on how to finance his plan. They contend his proposal
was originally made to deflect criticism.
	Meanwhile, Bush has totally rejected a national health insurance
along the lines that Canada provides. He also opposes the Democrats'
plan for employers to either pay for medical insurance or pay a federal
tax to help the government provide it.
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