Tuesday’s session was a short hour and forty minutes.  The only bill that was discussed passed in its first reading. The bill will reform quarterly doctor clinic visits. Attendance was perhaps the lightest of the year; few times were there more than ten MKs in the plenum. International Premature Baby Day had two motions and six speakers overall.

 

Non-Bills Summary

  • 15 MKs participated in the “One Minute Speech” segment that opened the session. Most of the speakers talked about Netanyahu’s Washington visit. Minister Begin (Likud) responded to the MKs’ speeches.
  • Speaker Rivlin gave a warm speech greeting the Head of Russia’s Federation Council, Sergei Mironub.
  • Two motions were discussed. The first was a motion on International Premature Baby Day. Speaker Rivlin, MK Levy-Abekasis (Y.B.), MK Agbaria (Hadash) and Minister Begin spoke. The motion was passed 9-0 and was sent to the Health Committee for further discussion. The second motion was on abortion.  The two speakers were MK Zeev (Shas) and MK Michaeli (Shas). That motion was passed 7-0 and was sent to the House Committee to find the appropriate committee to continue that discussion.

 

Bill Summary

Amendment to the National Health Insurance Bill

MK Maklev (U.T.J.) explained that his amendment would reform the quarterly copayments for health clinic visits. He stated that the new bill would start the three month quarterly count from the date of the first visit, as opposed to the standard today of counting by the calendar year. He hoped this would prevent doctors from taking advantage of patients by spacing out their appointments and would also encourage patients not to wait too long to make their appointments.

The bill passed its first reading 8-0 and was sent to the Health Committee.