Senate Goes for Opt-Out Public Option

Thinking that because (0.00 / 0)

all 50 states have opted in to Medicaid may mean that an opt-in public option would get equal buy-in is a non sequitur.

The 50 states have different levels of providing Medicaid insurance, and share in the costs and administration of the program, which leads to a ton of problems. If the PO was treated similarly, allowing states to construct their version of the plan, well, then it would continually get watered down and associated with Mecicaid, which is to say it is more "slum insurance."

Most governors hate Medicaid, because they have to pay for part of it. Take a look at Schweitzer's recent comments on Medicaid.

Modeling the PO after a Medicaid-style state responsibility via opt-in would be a horrible way for health care reform to move forward. In fact, it could backfire as it could reignite the angst the states feel towards Medicaid --f the final bill doesn't include tightening its federal eligibility requirements, provisions, and increased and guaranteed funding. I can see someone like Schweitzer leading the state Leg to decrease medicaid eligibiiity and benefits, given his statements about it. The PO needs to be a solid federal program, not a state-initiated bandaid, if it is to be anything at all.

A better approach than an opt-in would be to include the Kucinich amendment, which would allow states to construct their own single payer system, and use existing federal dollars to fund a portion of it.

Matt, you're really waffling with this opt-in rationalizing. Next we'll be hearing a rationalization for a triggered opt-in.

Which will leave us with a strictly private plan, which is no plan and no reform at all.

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by: JC @ Mon Oct 26, 2009 at 18:44:21 PM UTC

It's opt-out (0.00 / 0)

Which is a big deal and very different from opt-in.

And Governors may hate Medicaid, but it still exists in all fifty states.

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by: Matt Singer @ Mon Oct 26, 2009 at 19:42:35 PM UTC

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So Reid read the tea leaves (0.00 / 0)

in his reelection bid, and went with the opt-opt.

Now it remains to be seen what it is that states can opt-out of. He did mention at his presser that the coop is still firmly implanted--whether as a fall back, accessory, or as the mechanism by which the PO is conveyed has yet to be revealed.

And governors aren't the only people who hate Medicaid. It has a love-hate relationship with many of its covered, and near universal disdain from its providers.  

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by: JC @ Mon Oct 26, 2009 at 20:08:23 PM UTC

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I don't think so - (0.00 / 0)

This doesn't make sense to me.

If the plan is so bad, that it won't pass unless there's an opt-out provision, the states WILL opt-out, especially more conservative states like Montana.

So what happens when all the needing-serious-high-dollar-care, patients, like brain cancer or AIDS patients start flocking to States that didn't opt out ?

I think REID is about to be another Tom Foley anyway, so I don't think it's reelection he's thinking of - perhaps is this provision supposed to ensure health-care reform does not pass?

Maybe pay-off to some campaign donors?

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by: Eric Coobs @ Mon Oct 26, 2009 at 20:44:55 PM UTC

What? (0.00 / 0)

You forgot to mention that the President is from Kenya.

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by: Matt Singer @ Mon Oct 26, 2009 at 21:20:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]