[To be clear, I am an ardent supporter of reform, I just know it is going to be a whole lot tougher than simply getting everyone to agree that more competition for coverage/premium revenue dollars will be a good thing.] In about three hours, President Obama will address the AMA here in Chicago. I may stop by, grab a press credential, and live blog it. We'll see. In the event that I get stuck doing other things, here is this week's YouTube HD address, which is (mostly) on this very same topic. Here is what The Wall Street Journal carried yesterday, in advance of the President's "kick-off" at the AMA:
. . . .Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said that in many markets, private insurers currently have no competitors, giving them wide latitude to raise premiums on customers. She said a government-run option, as long as it followed the same rules as private providers, would force such insurers to lower prices to keep existing customers."Most Americans understand that choice and competition is what we want," Ms. Sebelius said in an interview on CNN's "State of the Union." "You can write the rules for a level playing field. The president does not want to dismantle privately owned plans. . . . He wants to strengthen the marketplace."
Ms. Sebelius's remarks came ahead of a major address by Mr. Obama before the American Medical Association scheduled for Monday, in which he is expected to try to bring new momentum to his health-care overhaul plans. . . .
6 comments:
I am praying that congress stands up to the insurance industry and does what is right for the PEOPLE this time, but I am not holding out too much hope. While you can no longer give a doctor a pen, the insurance companies can still give the politicians millions.
Very well-put!
To be fair, so can the pharma companies -- give politicians millions, that is -- and pharma does. Didja' see how much Merck and Schering-Plough gave Sen. Baucus (D), of Montana?
[He chairs the Senate Committee charged with FDA/pharma oversight.]
Thanks -- do stop back, from time to time.
Namaste
Actually Senator Kennedy Chairs the Senate HELP committee (Health, Education, Labor and Pensions).
Senator Baucus chairs the Senate Finance Committee and Senator Grassley is the ranking member of the minority party. Finance looks into FDA because what FDA does creates costs for the government via Medicaid and Medicare and Finance is in charge of coming up with the money to pay for it.
For an interesting take on Obama's speech take a look at the posting on the blog Furious Seasons.
http://www.furiousseasons.com/
Salmon
Thanks for the correction, Salmon -- but Sen. Grassley has moved on -- he is now ranking member on Judiciary, I believe, in advance of the Sotomayer nomination to the SCOTUS.
I'll check the Furious Seasons link, shortly.
Great stuff, as ever!
Namaste
Actually Sen. Grassley is still ranking member of the finance committee and is working on health care reform with Sen Baucus.
Sen. Grassley negotiated to remain as ranking member of finance until the next term with Sen. Sessions being ranking member in the interim and then stepping aside in 2011.
http://iowaindependent.com/14751/grassley-gets-his-way-with-committee-assignments
Salmon
Wow -- I appreciate the insight, Salmon! hadn't seen/followed that part of the GOP's "inner deal-workings".
So he'll serve on Judiciary, beginning in late 2010, assuming he doesn't lose a re-election bid earlier that year.
Great input -- Thanks!
Namaste
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