Senate, House May Be Moving Closer on Public Option

[TomCADem]

Source: Bloomberg

. 23 (Bloomberg) -- Senate Democrats are leaning toward including a government-run insurance plan in U.S. health-care legislation that would allow individual states to opt out, an idea that House leaders signaled would be acceptable.

The establishment of the so-called public option to compete with private insurers is opposed by Republicans and has split Democrats. To get support from reluctant members of his party, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid is likely to include the opt-out version in the legislation, said a Democratic aide who requested anonymity.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who backs what she calls a more “robust” form of the public option, was asked today about the Senate proposal at a Washington press conference. “I don’t think there’s much problem with that,” she said.

“At the end of the day, we will have a public option in our legislation,” Pelosi, a California Democrat, said. “It’s good, better, best. We’re having that debate.”


Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aLf_UVH.pE.8

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It seems like the main battle in the House is whether the Public Option is pegged to Medicare rates, which the House should demand if its agrees to the AMAs demand for a long term fix to Medicare reimbursement.

[Oldtimeralso]

1. K & R and proud to be # 1 n/t

[Oregone]

2. "It seems like the main battle in the House is whether the Public Option is pegged to Medicare rate"

What a red herring too.

They should be focusing on the eligibility criteria (should be universal) and subsidy levels (should allow every person to buy in with minimal financial burden to specific circumstances).

The rate schedule will lower the necessary premium, and therefore, subsidies, so it isn't entirely moot. It should not rule the debate though. Its a multi-faceted reform, and Id venture to say eligibility criteria is far more important than how much they are willing to pay for procedures.

[Ian David]

3. Yay!

[bluestateguy]

4. And the roller coaster continues

Five minutes until some other "inside baseball" report shoots it all down.