Though purely symbolic, this show of strength by 28 Democratic senators sends a clear signal to liberals that a public plan, one of the left's top priorities and a component of President Obama's healthcare platform, will be part of reform.
Kennedy's unequivocal support for the public plan marks a return of sorts to the front lines of the battle for healthcare reform.
This is what the resolution says here:
"Resolved, That the Senate recognizes that any efforts to reform our Nation's health care system should include as an option the establishment of a federally-backed insurance pool to create options for American consumers," the "Sense of the Senate" resolution reads, in part.
"This is about consumer choice and introducing competition in the health insurance market," Brown said in a statement. "Private health insurers always manage to stay one step ahead of the sheriff'- finding new ways to limit care and pass costs along to the consumer. Giving Americans the choice of a quality, federally backed, health insurance option will keep private insurers honest and make healthcare affordable."
Now, remember, the devil is in the details. The options also range from a Medicare-like public option, to the so-called Schumer compromise [which has been roundly criticized], and to the proposal by Senator Nelson and Senator Snowe to have the public option as a "fall-back" to be "triggered" if private insurance fails.
I support a Medicare-like public option that is a strong, robust competitive player that keeps the health insurance companies "honest" and helps lower premiums by expanding access to EVERYONE. Also, this article in The Nation, has it right about what the bottom line should be for the public option as an essential part of health care reform, and why we should be aware about the dangers of the Schumer so-called compromise.
While progressive advocates are not rejecting his plan out of hand--they even think it could produce a useful compromise--there are two provisions that could wind up gutting the public option. Schumer rules out requiring that providers who accept Medicare patients also take public plan patients. Some believe such a requirement is the only way to ensure that the public option has the market power to get lower rates with enough participating providers. Schumer would also have the public plan pay more than Medicare. The public plan could still bring down costs by paying somewhere between Medicare rates and those of private insurers (the more liberal House is reportedly considering such a structure), but if lawmakers settle on a requirement that the public plan pay prevailing market prices, the point of a public plan will have been largely lost.
"It's got to have the ability to hold down rates--to me that's the critical part of it," says Urban Institute economist Linda Blumberg. It defeats the purpose to say, "We have a public plan option but we're going to do everything we can to increase its cost so we can have a level playing field."
The public option has to be aggressive, and it's got to be able to compete everywhere to counter-act the monopoly some insurers have in regional markets. And Democrats, like Senator Charles Schumer, should take care to remember that even with a weakened public option or a toothless public option, the insurers will STILL fight against its inclusion in health care reform.
Of course, many of the most powerful healthcare interests are likely to fight a public plan tooth and nail, no matter how hedged it becomes. Indeed, at this writing, the insurer Blue Cross Blue Shield was reportedly preparing TV ads targeting a public plan, even though it had been making nice with the White House on healthcare reform. Democrats seeking a compromise on this issue must remember that a public plan is a tool for fixing the healthcare market so that all Americans can afford the care they need. If they're going to fight for such a plan, it should be one that actually helps accomplish that goal.
And that's why I support a Medicare-like public option. I'm glad that Senators Kennedy, Brown, Durbin, and [yes, Schumer] have co-sponsored that congressional resolution about the importance of the public option. It's even more important that it BE a public option that's like Medicare, isn't hampered, and can compete strongly with private insurers to provide care to Americans.
And I think it's because of people like you who responded so strongly to the diary yesterday over at Dailykos by calling Senator Kennedy's office that he is now onboard with the public option as a part of health care reform. So, you guys did a great job! It's still not over yet though.
[I'd also like to thank anju for letting me know about this wonderful website and asking me to cross-post over here. So, thanks again!] |
