Wellpoint "really did" write the Baucus health plan

[Baobab]

http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/september/wellpoint_really_di.php

[merrily]

1. The "Baucus health plan?" Do you mean "Obamacare?"

I hadn't realized there was any doubt that Wellpoint wrote it--after the White House had reached certain understandings with health insurers, Big PHRMA and Big Medical Providers. Then, in a quixotic attempt to slap a bipartisan label on Collins' participation, they let her make it even worse, but she never voted for it anyway.

[Baobab]

2. Yes, have you read Nick Skala's IJHS paper?

http://www.pnhp.org/sites/default/files/Nick%20Skala%20GAT%20and%20Health%20Reform.pdf

[merrily]

3. No, but I'll bookmark. Thanks!

So much to read; so little time.

[Baobab]

4. It explains the big problem they never discuss.

Its a virtual Rosetta stone to bad policy reasons.

[merrily]

5. Well, the origin was a conservative group in Jackson Hole, Wyoming

that was horrified by Nixon's plan of an employer mandate and no individual mandate. Then it became the Heritage Foundation Plan, then Billarycare, then Romneycare, then Obamacare, with Rahm overseeing the process. Then, much as DU loves to blame Lieberman, the people cited upthread made it even worse.

Where were the great policy reasons supposed to come from? But, never let a stuff on shingle sandwich become the enemy of no sandwich at all!

Remember how it was supposed to be the first step toward Medicare for all, but now Medicare for All is impossible and shame on Bernie Sanders for pretending otherwise? Good times.

[KPN]

6. Great comment:

"Remember how it was supposed to be the first step toward Medicare for all, but now Medicare for All is impossible and shame on Bernie Sanders for pretending otherwise? Good times."

[Baobab]

9. The US is waging a global war on "public" services UNLESS they are ...(IMPORTANT)

...unless they are "supplied neither on a commercial basis, nor in competition with one or more service suppliers"


That is a key concept to understand in the international trade context.

And its very bad what we are doing. We're effectively fighting a war on public education.

[Baobab]

7. Saved for later.. Do you want to learn something important and interesting now?

Googling these lines - especially the last half of the third one, (c) will bring up a lot of writing on a key issue.. I would disregard the ones from the WTO and USTR, and perhaps also the EU government (with the exception of the Viviane Reding group, who seem to be trying - to fix this and related issues there!) and focus on the criticism from NGOS and academia.

"For the purposes of this Agreement…

(b) 'services' includes any service in any sector except services supplied in the exercise of governmental authority;

(c) 'a service supplied in the exercise of governmental authority' means any service which is supplied neither on a commercial basis, nor in competition with one or more service suppliers."

[merrily]

8. I will bookmark that, too. I am not up for much study right now.