Think it's only the insurance industry that resorts to BS reports to kill reform, think again

[ProSense]

New Report: Triggered Public Option Is Better Than The Existing Public Option Provisions

A new report from the Urban Institute argues that a “strong” public option — one that is triggered in the event that overall growth in national health spending exceeds a pre-determined target — may do more to control health care spending than the public option proposals offered in existing legislation:

In the absence of enough political support to pass a strong public option at this time, a “trigger” for a strong public option should be considered for inclusion in health reform legislation whether or not a weak public option is included as a political compromise. Even the threat of such a plan being triggered offers the potential to affect market dynamics between insurers and providers.

The report says that the Senate and House’s public option provisions (which require the public plan to independently negotiate rates with providers) hold little hope of lowering costs in areas of the country with high provider concentration. In areas where hospitals have “too strong a market presence to be excluded from insurer networks,” hospitals could dictate prices, stripping the public plan of its ability to negotiate cheaper rates, the report warns. According to a 2006 study, 86% “of large metropolitan areas were considered to have highly concentrated hospital markets.”

more

What utter bullshit.

Here's an idea: let's start with the current public option, and trigger medicare rates "in the event that overall growth in national health spending exceeds a pre-determined target."

[AllentownJake]

1. This is interesting

39. Massachusetts' universal health care coverage experiment

Contributed to Massachusetts' 2006 universal health care coverage experiment with our proposals on health insurance reform. A year later, we found that the share of uninsured adults in the state fell by nearly half and employers didn't appear to be eliminating their health benefits because public coverage was available.

http://www.urban.org/about/40years/40accomplishments.cfm

It appears to be a progressive organization founded by a group brought together by Lyndon Johnson till you drill down on policy.

[ProSense]

2. Interesting. Still

it's idiotic to propose that a trigger is better than including a public option, especially because they're claiming it may not be enough. Surely they know that without it the scenario is worse. If they want to propose a trigger why not propose it be included to trigger more robust measures in the event the public option doesn't realize enough savings?

[AllentownJake]

3. Probably because someone asked them to publish the report for political cover?

My best guess. Judging by their policy pronouncements they seem to be a center democratically linked organization.

Harry Reid? Max Baucus?

:shrug:

[ProSense]

4. Who knows, the point is

it's a ridiculous argument.

[AllentownJake]

5. Yes and the trigger has been since the beginning

However, it may be the only way they can bypass Lieberman in a cloture vote. I'm not thrilled with this bill or this approach, but I can see the politics going on.

[ProSense]

6. Talk about giving obstructionists a pass:

"However, it may be the only way they can bypass Lieberman in a cloture vote."

Good grief!

[AllentownJake]

7. Like you and I have a say in the moment

There is a 50-50 chance Lieberman jumps the caucus and becomes a Republican to prevent a Jodi Rell challenge from the GOP in 2012.

[Clio the Leo]

8. Did you hear Sen. Carper's explanation of an opt-in the other night?

And I'm sorry, I dont remember if it was on Hardball, Rachel or Countdown but Dr. Dean was guest hosting. .... or it might have been Ed's show. Anyway, Sen. Carper explained his opt-in pointing out that "it's not a lot different than what Olympia wants..." and that basically it boiled down to states would be .... I dont think "forced" was the word ...... but states would opt-in if there was not enough competiton among insurance companies in the given state.

Made sense at the time .... and sorry I cant give you a link.