Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D- RI): On Ed Show for Public Option.

[vaberella]

He's part of the Senate Committee on Health Care and he's a supporter of a Public Option---which I love, as some of you know.

He says he's looking for a PO that isn't based on government subsidies but a new option.

He's working on a health plan I believe for the PO and he said in 6 weeks something would be made. He also said he supports taxes on the CEOs who have "concierge health plans" however, for workers he doesn't support a tax. :woohoo:

I love the Ed Show.


As an aside, I think he's handsome. I'm such a political fangirl, it's not funny.

[msongs]

1. The only Whitehouse doing something about a public option besides talking nt

[DrToast]

2. Baucus: Public plan will be part of the Senate Bill

Doesn't say what form, but it sounds like they're moving forward with it.

http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20090604/REG/306049976

[vaberella]

4. It won't go through without editing, it's going to fail in congress...

if it's the way I'm thinking about it.

[LooseWilly]

5. I'm not sure I like the "very light touch" description of the gov. role...

in the "modeled on a private health care plan" description that Baucus seems to be envisioning.

I hope this isn't going to be a "we'll take anyone the private insurers won't take, but we'll set our prices like the private insurers, to be sure we don't disrupt the Health Care Industry" kind of plan...

[Mass]

6. His plan is after 7 years if private options do not offer good solutions for all.

And here is Schumer's version of the plan:
I particularly like the sentence about doctors not having to participate. If the experience of Massachusetts serves, this means that, in some areas, very few doctors will accept the public plan.

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/360/23/2385

a public plan would have to be a self-sustaining entity, drawing its revenues from premiums and copayments rather than counting on government subsidies; it would negotiate its payments with doctors and hospitals instead of relying on Medicare's administered pricing system; the government could not compel physicians and hospitals to participate in the new public plan; and the authority that regulates health plans could not be the same entity that manages the public plan.
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[MarjorieG]

3. Extremely smart, assertive, always knowledgable. Great addition to the Senate.

We lost a good moderate GOP in RI, who'd have voted with us once Bush gone, but Whitehouse a wonderful trade.

[Mass]

7. And at least, he is not afraid to say so.

[MasonJar]

8. I certainly wish Senator Whitehouse represented me instead of McConnell/Bunning.

Rhode Island count your blessings. He and Boxer and Feingold are "the top"/ "the Eiffel Tower" as Cole Porter would say