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House's Public Option Proposal Will Initially Use Rates Similar To Medicare
Obviously things could change in mark-up and at other points down the line, but for now, notwithstanding the concerns of some conservative Democrats, the House is proposing (PDF) a public option that will "[i]nitially [pay] rates similar to those used in Medicare with greater flexibility to vary payments."
That's sure to please overhaul supporters, many of whom consider the public option the sine qua non of true health care reform. You can read summary information about both the public option and the entire bill at the House Education and Labor Committee website.
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Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
THIS IS HUGE!
July 14, 2009 3:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
+1
The big test will be in the Senate. I don't the the fight there is going to be pretty. I am cautiously optimistic.
If it dies in the senate, then let it be clear who drove the stake through it. Paybacks are a bitch come 2010.
July 14, 2009 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm hesitant to be too optimistic, but House Democrats may finally be starting to understand how this "negotiation" thing works...
July 14, 2009 3:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fortunately for the health care industry, they have bought and paid for enough Senate Democrats that they really don't have to worry about an effective public option. Try as he might, the President is going to end up signing into law a compromise bill that will keep the same businesses profitable and the same poor people struggling.
July 14, 2009 5:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
It'll be watered down, especially since they are letting the "process" take another 3 months
July 14, 2009 3:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
I just received notification of my second rate increase in six months from my individual health insurance provider -- which makes a 34% rise in 18 months total (no pre-existing conditions or health issues in that time).
This type of thing is unsustainable -- I'll be paying $6,000/year in no time for one person. I, for one, can't wait to see my insurance company having to compete with a robust public plan.
July 14, 2009 4:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Go to Canada!
July 14, 2009 4:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually I would prefer that these people who have orchestrated our health care abomination go to Afghanistan.
I hear that they are rebuilding their country and could use some quality health care. Might want to be a bit careful about alienating the locals though. From what I understand lobbying there can have consequences that are hazardous to your health--no pun intended--if what you are lobbying for ends up screwing over people you were supposedly benefiting.
July 14, 2009 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good News! :-)
July 14, 2009 4:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
The PDF in this article says that physicians who are treating Medicare patients will have the ability to (opt) out of the public option.
Could this ability for physicians to opt out be fatal to the success of the public option?
July 14, 2009 6:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
No. The amount of doctors who don't take medicare patients is pretty damn low.
July 14, 2009 8:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't get your hopes up. I read the summaries of the plan, and it doesn't really do nearly as much as we hoped for. The "Public Option" is set up to fail, by requiring that it be totally self sufficient, from the beginning. And, it doesn't make health care a right that all of us have, in any way I can see. In fact it looks to me like incrementalism running wild. And, all of this before any compromising is done.
July 14, 2009 10:43 PM | Reply | Permalink