Democrats voted against an amendment offered by Rep. Wally Herger (R-CA) to prohibit the use of Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) to make coverage determinations on the basis of cost.  As it relates to the role of the Health Benefits Advisory Committee recommendations the discussion draft introduced last month said: “In developing such recommendations, the Committee shall take into account innovation in health care and ensure that essential benefits coverage does not lead to rationing of health care.”  The new bill says: “In developing such recommendations, the Committee shall take into account innovation in health care and consider how such standards could reduce health disparities.”   Democrats actually removed what little language they had protecting Americans from the rationing of care.  This subtle change makes it more likely we will face the rationing of care experienced in other countries.

This amendment to prevent the government from using the results of comparative effectiveness research to make coverage decisions based on cost was defeated 26-15