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Health care bill ready, includes 'opt out'
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AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty
Earlier this month I reported on a new idea in the health care reform debate. The idea sounded fairly simple-give each state a choice: don't like the public option? Opt out.
I received a huge response to that article from readers, most of whom were against the idea. But I told them if I were a betting woman I'd put money on the opt out making it into the final bill.
Looks like I should have taken all comers. MSNBC is reporting that Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid is sending a health care reform bill to the Congressional Budget Office later today. It includes a public option, and it includes an opt-out clause.
Talking Points Memo reports Reid will release details of the bill shortly after it is sent to the CBO (probably late Monday or early Tuesday). TPM also reports that the Obama administration has expressed skepticism over the opt-out clause but Reid because he believes it's the best way to ensure the bill's passage. senior sources in the White House have indicated that if Reid has the votes the President will back it.
What would an opt-out clause look like? In researching my article of October 8, it seems the clause would be exactly as it sounds: a state could opt out of a public health care option either by voting on a public referendum, authorizing the legislation to vote, or allowing the governor to make the decision. But the old saying is correct, the devil is in the details: if your state opts in and has a public option program, would you have to prove residency in order to use it? If a state votes to opt out, how difficult would it be if residents changed their mind? Same with a state that opts in and then reverses itself, how would they opt out?
Giving states the power, literally, over life and death would certainly change the gravitas of local elections: if your elected representatives were given the power to opt in or opt out of a public health plan, and if you live in a state where the make up of the legislature veers from right to left and back again every few years, you could be in for a heck of a bumpy ride. As a one-time residence of a state that fits that description, I certainly hope there's some continuity built in.
One detail I know for sure: the idea of an opt out will make a lot of people unhappy. Progressives want universal coverage, conservatives want no government involvement anyway anywhere anyhow. But let's all take a deep breath and put this in perspective. American health care is a broken system. Presidents and Congress have taken up the fight to fix it for nearly a century. Finally, today, a real health care reform bill with a very good chance of becoming law will be presented. The screaming, shouting, name calling and lies may continue but even John McCain admits we're in the home stretch now. If I were a betting woman I'd bet President Barack Obama will sign the first comprehensive health care reform bill in U.S. history before the end of this year.
I'll provide an update as more information is made available. Stay tuned: it's about to get very, very interesting.
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