Senate Finance Committee Set For Public Option Debate

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 30 Sep 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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A "series of high-profile votes" are expected Tuesday on adding a public plan option to the Senate Finance Committee's health reform bill, Politico reports. Although supporters do not expect the public option to pass the Finance Committee, they are hoping the exposure will help provide momentum for the idea.

At least three potential versions of the public option could be offered Tuesday. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) could propose the so-called "level playing field" option, which would permit health care providers to negotiate reimbursement rates and voluntarily opt in to the program.

He also could propose, in coordination with Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), an amendment that would allow the HHS secretary to negotiate provider reimbursement rates at levels no higher than the average of all reimbursement rates in the health insurance exchange.

Lastly -- in what some consider the most liberal approach to the public plan option -- Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) could propose a public option amendment that would allow the HHS secretary to set provider reimbursement rates at 5% above those for Medicare.

According to Politico, Schumer is hoping a debate in the Finance Committee could reinvigorate discussion of the public plan option, which is included in health reform legislation from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (S 1679) and the House (HR 3200).

Schumer said, "The Senate floor is more favorable to the public plan option than the Finance Committee, and (negotiations with the House are) more favorable than the Senate floor," adding, "But we certainly want to begin the debate. ... The more focus there is on the public option, the better it does. All the misunderstandings get cleared up" (Budoff Brown/O'Connor, Politico, 9/29).

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