House Leaders Will Attempt to Finalize Health Bill
October 05, 2009
House Democratic leaders are busy negotiating the details of their health care overhaul. One major sticking point is the details of a public insurance option likely to be included in the bill. This week, Democrats discussed at least three approaches to the provision: pegging reimbursement rates in the program to those in Medicare, allowing the federal government to negotiate rates with health care providers, and authorizing the provision only as a fallback option.
While tying the public insurance option to Medicare would save an estimated $85 billion through negotiated rates, moderate Blue Dog Democrats have voiced strong opposition to that approach. If House leaders decide to include a public option, they could lose the votes of many Democratic centrists and the Blue Dogs. If leaders opt to remove the public option, they could lose the votes of liberals. Even with the sizable majority of Democrats, either decision might cost enough votes to kill the bill, as Republicans appear united against it.
House leaders hope to move forward with negotiations the week of October 12.
