So what would be the effect of proposed federal insurance rules? Obama said premiums would go down; Alexander said they would go up. The CBO weighed in with a 28-page analysis. The answer seems to be: “It depends.” Large group plans, small group plans, nongroup plans? Income level (i.e. subsidy level)? “Bare-bones plan” (probably to be outlawed), “Cadillac plan (prepare to be taxed), or just-right plan?
One of the unbridgeable gaps appears to be abortion funding. Nancy Pelosi claims the new Plan doesn’t cover abortion, but Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) and others claim that it does. Layers of accounting gimmicks mean that everyone will be paying a monthly abortion premium.
Before the reconciliation process can be use to bypass a filibuster, the House has to pass a bill acceptable to the Senate. Abortion coverage may be the factor that defeats that maneuver. The key vote may then be not Scott Brown’s but Democrats who supported the Stupak Amendment in the House.
Goodman concludes that none of the speakers at the summit have any idea how to control costs, improve quality, or ensure acceess to care. The Republicans’ blank sheet of paper idea is the best one we have heard.
No comments:
Post a Comment