Baucus proposed Medicare-style public option last November

[ProSense]

Baucus proposed Medicare-style public option last November

by Jed Lewison

What happened to Max Baucus?

Today, he's the biggest thing standing between us and a public option, but on November 12, 2008 he released a 35,000-word, 98-page health care proposal that included a public option.

Quoting from the Baucus proposal (pp. 26 and 27):

The Baucus plan envisions that the Health Insurance Exchange would offer a new opportunity for individuals and small businesses to easily compare private coverage options and a public plan and to purchase the policy that would work best for them.

The Exchange would also include a new public plan option, similar to Medicare. This option would abide by the same rules as private insurance plans participating in the Exchange (e.g., offer the same levels of benefits and set the premiums the same way). Rates paid to health care providers by this option would be determined by balancing the goals of increasing competition and ensuring access for patients to high-quality health care. A number of options could be considered to determine who runs the plan, who is eligible for it, and how to ensure that the public-private insurance competition lowers costs and improves quality. The Independent Health Coverage Council, described below, would inform these decisions.

Federal funds would be needed to start up the Exchange, but it would be self-sustaining within a few years.

The Baucus plan also contained a provision which would have allowed Americans to purchase Medicare if they were between the ages of 55 and 64 and didn't have access to the Exchange.

So less than twelve months ago Max Baucus was promoting the idea of a public plan option within a national Health Insurance Exchange.

Today, his committee is the only thing slowing it down.

What gives? Who got to Max Baucus?

There's a story here, and it's probably very interesting.

This was Baucus trying to catch the media's attention before any other Dem. He basically revealed the Dem's plan so he could be viewed as leading the push for reform.

He was hoping to upstage the HELP committee, but he failed. He was hoping that his bill would be the dominant bill so that he could do exactly what he's trying to do now sellout the Democrats on the public option.

One thing is certain, all Baucus' arguments against the public option are BS. Baucus = Fail.

[kenny blankenship]

1. We gave his masters what they wanted so quick and easily

that they decided they wanted MORE.

That's what happened. That's what always happens when you send a conciliator in to do a gladiator's job.

They got what they wanted when we unilaterally dropped Single Payer in exchange for nothing. They could pop the champagne and lay out their celebratory lines of coke right then. Since that moment onward, they've just been seeing how high they can run up the score...

[kirby]

2. See this link...

Look at what industries are in the top 5 spots.

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?cycle=2010&cid=N00004643&type=I&mem=

[NYC_SKP]

10. Ah Ha!

Kinda makes you want to kick almost all their asses out of Congress cuz ya know it's not just Max.

[DJ13]

3. Give him credit

That proposal served its purpose as blackmail to secure increased bribes for his campaign fund from the health care idustry.

Aint our system great?

[Teaser]

4. he's a tool

I don't think any of us debate that.

[uponit7771]

5. NICE FIND Prosense! Gives me more confidence that Obama is Rope-A-Doping reThugs into being against.

...something the general public wants and decrease their numbers more and more

[Soylent Brice]

6. K&R

[Eric J in MN]

7. Baucus had great liberal values last year but they were made of glass.

One push from an insurance company lobbyist and they shattered.

[mzmolly]

8. According to Dean much of what's happening is "politics" ie an attempt

to get the bill through the Senate. Ultimately the bill will pass with a public option through reconciliation.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036789/vp/32445707#32445707

[ProSense]

13. We'll see. Baucus needs to be called out on this. n/t

[HopeOverFear]

9. Well lookie here

[Hieronymus]

11. Vote out the" blue dogs" in your district. They bring down the Democratic

Party ... just republican lite.

[democrat2thecore]

12. Bought and paid for. -nt