You asked for it….now you got it! The House version of the health reform bill has finally seen the light of day…it has just been announced….and now we can pick it apart…well, as soon as all the details are out……let the fun begin!
CNN has its report on the bill:
The bill — a combination of versions passed by three House committees — includes what is termed a “negotiated rate” public option. It will cost $894 billion over 10 years and extend insurance coverage to 36 million Americans, according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office.
The bill guarantees that 96 percent of Americans have coverage, Pelosi’s office said. The figure is based on an analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
Under the House plan, health care providers would be allowed to negotiate reimbursement rates with the federal government, according to Democratic leadership aides.
Pelosi’s office said the bill would cut the federal deficit by roughly $30 billion over the next decade. The measure is financed largely through a combination of a tax surcharge on wealthy Americans and spending constraints in Medicare and Medicaid.
Medicare expenditures would be cut by 1.3 percent annually, Pelosi’s office said.
Under the House plan, health care providers would be allowed to negotiate reimbursement rates with the federal government, according to Democratic leadership aides.
Any bill passed by the House of Representatives will eventually have to be merged with legislation passed by the Senate. Both chambers would then have to pass a revised measure before sending it to President Obama to be signed into law.
You may have only thought that the “robust” public option was still alive…….
Are you ready for the fun? The GOP already hates it….go figure and as more details are released the more of an overall picture we will have of the proposal.
I will begin……”negotiated rate” public option? What happen to there would be a “robust” public option? Negotiated rate does not sound robust to me.
Sorry, progressives….so far you guys are getting bumpkus of the stuff you wanted….the GOP ought to be thrilled….why?….they have succeeded in killing the possibility of ALL Americans getting adequate health care….that is a win….so far the Dems are losing…but as the pundits say…if Obama gets a bill to sign, then that would be a win….
And that is the stupidest thing I have ever heard……
More to follow…………….
Just read your latest reply. Thanks! I suppose I would argue that the dearth of a well-informed citizenry (i.e., not having learned about federalism) is (i’m tempted to say, “the bane of this country” lol) part of the reason that changes have been made that have unintentionally compromised our governmental design. I”m not making an original intent argument; rather, I’m just saying that tinkering on a part of the car without knowing how the tinkering will impact the functioning of the car as a whole is a dangerous proposition.
So true…..I understand that you are just stating your opinion….but after studying (years ago…too many to admit to) about federalism…I noticed one thing in particular….Virginia…it seems we are to believe that Virginia was the key to everything….after reading and research…the whole property thing was more to protect slavery than anything else, at least that is the way I see it…..sorry I digress…that is another post altogether…..plus Virginia claimed land as far away as Wisconsin and they were afraid that a strong central government would somehow force them to give up their land and their prestige…that is something they still bitch about….
You are doing a fine job with the federalism thing…keep up the good work….interesting reading…btw…have you read my post why federalism?…it is the proposal for Iraq in the day….
The trouble is, it’s just going to get more and more complicated and there will automatically be an increasing number of loopholes for those who are opposed to exploit.
I just can’t see why Obama didn’t just say at the beginning, “This is it. Pass it or not, we’re not changing it – PERIOD!”
I suppose that’s just not the way it’s done, but I think all this negotiation and modification and jockeying for votes and position is just so much bullshit!
If the people want public healthcare, then do it – good or bad. If it turns out that it IS a bad idea (as I think it may well be – in practice rather than in theory), then they can vote in a different administration next time around.
Why can’t we have simple, understandable government? You vote for something, you get it if enough other people vote for it too, whether those dick-heads think its a good idea or not.
What part of representing the views of the majority of the public don’t these people understand?
Quin…I have been wanting to ask you about the UK’s system…we hear that it sucks…at least from what the Right says…is that so?
Yes and no is the honest answer. Yes it sucks because governments will insist on endlessly interfering and trying to “control” every detail of it, which (just like the police, schools and other services) results in huge numbers of employees filling in forms, chasing “targets” and all sorts of administrative shit, instead of getting on with the job.
That is all done because they like to do it and also because, the more sophisticated and therefore expensive medicine becomes, the more we can’t afford it as a nation. Sadly, of course, it makes a bad situation worse rather than better – bureaucrats – ugh!
That said, the system is basically good and provides healthcare on demand and totally free at the point of delivery – we all pay for it through taxes – heavily – of course, but it is comforting. However, it CANNOT ever afford to do everything for everybody, which is what it often tries to do.
The powers that be are beginning to realise this, but being the total assholes they are, they naturally attack people like smokers, drinkers, the obese and more and claim they “did it to themselves” and may therefore not be entitled to the same level of care as others. What JERKS! those people have ALL paid vastly more than most others in iniquitous taxes, which have PAID for the NHS to even still be in existence at all. Still that’s another sunject, I guess.
What they SHOULD do is set a “basic” level of care for everyone which is quick, efficient and affordable – EVERYTHING else including such things as IVF etc., should be up to the individual to afford. Something along the lines of – if your condition is potentially life threatening, seriously directly debilitating, affects your ability to work normally, will cost the country a huge amount of money in the future, or (again directly) seriously makes life a misery – it SHOULD be included and anything that is a lifestyle decision like creating a baby should NOT be included for free. Abortion’s a tough one because it’s likely to cost the country far more to support an unwanted or unviable child than the initial operation.
Basically – it’s a brilliant system, but it has to be looked at dispassionately and economically – and then stick to it IN THE FUTURE – it is VILE to move the goalposts for those who have grown up and lived with one set of rules and then change them!
Well, you did ask… 😈
Yes I did…and I appreciate your honest critique….sounds like it is not the horrible thing that the Repubs try to paint it to be…..as you know..the same thing is happening here with the smokers and drinkers and eaters….but here they are blamed for the high premiums that the insurance companies collect……on the abortion thingy….here we have those called “pro-life” which is a bit of a streetch because they oppose abortions as killing and support the death penalty….that tickles the shit out of me…..the unborn child is important to them politically but once it is born it becomes a nothing object…it is NOT important to educate it or keep it healthy or fed or ….well you see where I am going with this…..sorry…I digress….
Pro-lifers? Don’t get me started on that shit… 😈
Actually…my thinking also……they give me gas…..
Quin….if I give a lecture on this subject would it be okay to include some of your comment?
Of course, be my guest. It’s just my opinion of course, but I think a lot of UK people agree – more or less. I would point out that, whilst you may see it as not too bad judging it by whatever standards you come up against, many people in the UK regard our NHS as “potentially very good, manned by SOME dedicated staff at the sharp end, and severly damaged by bureaucratic shits with nothing better to do than screw up what could be good.”
We also regard the UK’s NHS as “hugely expensive” but in terms of GDP at least, I believe we pay somewhat less than France or Germany, or at least we did a few years ago. However, in return for vast increases in cost, the service is either no better, or worse than before.
The thing is, (although there are always exceptions everywhere to everything) France, Germany and Spain have what I personally regard as much better healthcare than the UK and if they can do it, why can’t Britain?
To me, as I have said many times, the answer to that is the same as to so much else in the UK – heavy handed over involvement of government – and that’s what worries me about the US proposals.
Thanx….I will let you know if and when it is used……that way you can check it out….