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Debt Panel Floats Public Option for Health Care
WDJ ^ | 11/11/10 | Janet Adamy

Posted on 11/11/2010 9:39:37 AM PST by Nachum

It’s baaack.

Creating a public health insurance option — perhaps the most contentious idea of last year’s health overhaul debate — is among the possible solutions for reducing federal spending outlined in today’s debt commission report.

The draft by the co-chairmen of the White House-sponsored National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform calls for, among other things, increasing cost sharing for enrollees of Medicare and Medicaid, lowering payments to health-care providers that participate in Medicare and cutting payments to lawyers as part of an effort to curb medical malpractice lawsuits.

The plan sets a long-term goal of containing the growth in federal health-care spending – a major contributor to the deficit – so it accounts for no more than 1% in excess of gross domestic product after 2020.

Should GDP growth exceed that target, the report suggests several additional cost-savings measures, including adding “a robust public option and/or all-payer system” into new exchanges that the federal health law calls for in 2014.

Liberal Democrats pushed hard to include a public option in the health law that President Barack Obama signed in March, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada ultimately yanked it out because a handful of moderate Democrats threatened to withhold their votes over it.

(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: debt; floats; panel; public
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Surprise, Surprise, Surprise...
1 posted on 11/11/2010 9:39:40 AM PST by Nachum
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To: Jet Jaguar; NorwegianViking; ExTexasRedhead; HollyB; FromLori; EricTheRed_VocalMinority; ...

The list, ping

Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list

http://www.nachumlist.com/


2 posted on 11/11/2010 9:40:29 AM PST by Nachum (The complete Obama list at www.nachumlist.com)
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To: Nachum
If you really want to reduce health care costs, eliminate the mandates that require every insurance plan to pay for things like mammograms, preventative care, birth control, vaccines, contact lenses, substance abuse treatment, etc. Some people would rather pay for a cheaper plan that only covers catastrophic expenses and not all that other stuff.

Unfortunately, whenever a Republican takes this position, the Democrats demagogue the issue and say the Republican is "against" mammograms or whatever.

3 posted on 11/11/2010 9:44:08 AM PST by arista
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To: Nachum

SHOVEL


4 posted on 11/11/2010 9:45:58 AM PST by FrankR (Don't let the bastards wear you down!)
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To: Nachum

The debt panel could have given itself a lot of credibility by slamming Obamacare as a budget buster, but they passed.


5 posted on 11/11/2010 9:46:13 AM PST by AU72
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To: Nachum

While I understand that the pubic option was always the goal,it saves money how exactly?


6 posted on 11/11/2010 9:49:58 AM PST by Adder (Note to self: 11-2-10 Take out the Trash!!!)
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To: Nachum

I think I’d rather just have those socialist pigs cram their report where the sun don’t shine and take our chances without socialized medicine.


7 posted on 11/11/2010 9:52:08 AM PST by dajeeps
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To: Adder

‘While I understand that the pubic option was always the goal,it saves money how exactly?’

How? By cutting services. Especially end of life services, major illnesses (like cancer), and expensive drugs.

In essence, by letting most people suffer and die. -That is, unless you are one of the ruling elite. As it exists in every socialist country.


8 posted on 11/11/2010 9:57:12 AM PST by Nachum (The complete Obama list at www.nachumlist.com)
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To: Nachum
When will American citizens learn that whenever a state or federal agency appoints a so-called "commission" or "task force" to study any chosen subject, the primary recommendations/agenda coming from that "appointed" group were predetermined?

In the meantime, the "choice" of the participants is designed to coopt certain segments of the population into believing there is a serious objective study going on.

All are mere puppets on a stage, even if one or two are naive or arrogant enough to believe they are being objective.

9 posted on 11/11/2010 10:01:30 AM PST by loveliberty2
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To: Adder

It doesn’t. The goal is socialist control of the individual. “Reducing costs” is just a way to sell the idea to the public, knowing the public will never go for full-blown government control of healthcare in one shot.


10 posted on 11/11/2010 10:06:39 AM PST by Clock King (Ellisworth Toohey was right: My head's gonna explode.)
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To: Nachum

The only way the federal government can save money on health care is to get the hell out of it altogether. Do as the founders intended in the constitution. Leave it to the states and the people.


11 posted on 11/11/2010 10:09:55 AM PST by Jim Robinson (Rebellion is brewing!! Nuke the corrupt commie bastards to HELL!!)
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To: Nachum

Debt panel = death panel


12 posted on 11/11/2010 10:11:05 AM PST by Jim Robinson (Rebellion is brewing!! Nuke the corrupt commie bastards to HELL!!)
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To: Nachum

I would like a 50 payer solution. Allow states to set up high risk pools on their own. The states could determine the coverage rules, prices, eligibility and degree of subsidization if any.
After the safety net, let’s go back to real insurance. Non employer based, portable, tax exempt, high deductible catastrophic coverage with MSAs.


13 posted on 11/11/2010 10:15:16 AM PST by grumpygresh (Democrats delenda est)
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To: Jim Robinson
The only way the federal government can save money on health care is to get the hell out of it altogether. Do as the founders intended in the constitution. Leave it to the states and the people.

Amen Jim! Amen AMEN and A M E N ! ! !

14 posted on 11/11/2010 10:16:09 AM PST by Bigun ("It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere." Voltaire)
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To: Nachum

Uh, how is increasing demand going to reduce expenditures?


15 posted on 11/11/2010 10:16:13 AM PST by La Lydia
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To: Jim Robinson; All; FReepers
From Another Thread


I liked our old system much better.

You get sick, you go to the doctor, he writes prescription for the latest miracle drug, you pay doctor and pharmacist, get well and go back to work. Thank God you live and work in America!

You get really sick and have to go to the hospital. Thank God you live in America and your employer (or yourself) provides health insurance. The hospital uses the very latest in healthcare technology to make you well again. Thank God you live and work in America!

You get really, really, really sick and have lost your job and your health insurance, but you go to the hospital anyway and they use the latest healthcare technology to keep you alive, but put a lien on your house. Thank God you’re STILL ALIVE in America!

You get really, really, really sick, have lost your job and your home, but you go to the hospital anyway and they use the very latest in healthcare technology to keep you ALIVE, and medicare (provided by American workers) picks up the tab. Thank God you’re STILL alive and living in AMERICA rather than a socialist European country where healthcare is not so hot, but it’s free (IF and WHEN you can get it).

74 posted on 10/10/2010 4:13:45 PM PDT by Jim Robinson

16 posted on 11/11/2010 10:17:55 AM PST by Fiddlstix (Warning! This Is A Subliminal Tagline! Read it at your own risk!(Presented by TagLines R US))
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To: Nachum
Only in Washington can you state that those steps will "cut costs" with a straight face.

cutting payments to lawyers as part of an effort to curb medical malpractice lawsuits

How about we just try this instead?

17 posted on 11/11/2010 10:20:27 AM PST by nodumbblonde ("The ladder of success is best climbed by stepping on the rungs of opportunity." - Ayn Rand)
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To: Fiddlstix; Jim Robinson

Well done.


18 posted on 11/11/2010 10:22:59 AM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: trisham
Thank you Go Ahead: Click It!
19 posted on 11/11/2010 10:29:34 AM PST by Fiddlstix (Warning! This Is A Subliminal Tagline! Read it at your own risk!(Presented by TagLines R US))
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To: Fiddlstix
You're welcome. Go Ahead: Click It!
20 posted on 11/11/2010 10:35:28 AM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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