The White House plan is online. I haven’t had time to read it myself, but there’s a quick summary at Talking Points Memo.
Among the highlights, which Brian goes over in more detail here:
- A delayed start to a new tax on high-end insurance plans. It would go into effect in 2018, not the 2013 as initially proposed.
- Ends the Nebraska deal giving a federal government subsidy for Medicaid.
- It has no public option but creates an exchange system.
- Was crafted to be in line with using reconciliation as a tactic for final passage.
- As we reported earlier, the measure proposes giving the government new power to block insurance rate hikes.
Marc Ambinder provides another bulleted list. These are just some of the bullets:
- it proposes to cover 31 million Americans who don’t have health insurance;
- it creates a new federal facility to help states crack down on insurance industry abuses and unfair rate increases;
- it includes significantly ramped up efforts to crack down on waste and fraud within the Medicare/Medicaid systems — this is a nod to Republicans (Peter Roskam and Mark Kirk are behind proposals to do just this);
- it adds a Medicare tax of 2.9% on unearned income — hitting the wealthy; it immediately closes the Medicare Part D donut hole gap — something seniors should notice before the November 2010 elections if this gets through Congress;
- it increases tax credits to families to help them buy insurance; it spends $11 billion on community health care centers
- it increases fees for brand name (as opposed to generic) drugs, depriving the pharmaceutical industry of an extra source of profits
See also E.J. Dionne, “The Elephant at the Health Care Summit”
Ends the Nebraska deal giving a federal government subsidy for Medicaid.
Ha ha, Ben Nelson FAIL.
Increases fees for brand name (as opposed to generic) drugs, depriving the pharmaceutical industry of an extra source of profits.
Oh, there will be shrill screaming about that.
Spends $11 billion on community health care centers.
Somewhere, Ted Kennedy hoists a glass to Obama. (Psst, Ted: a word in St. Jude’s ear? Make this lost cause a winner.)
I’m pretty sure the pharmas will find a way around the closure of the donut hole. (“Donut” because “doughnut” would reveal my age!)
“… something seniors should notice before the November 2010 elections if this gets through Congress;”
Too many of them will be too busy watching FOX News and Glenn, listening to Rush, reading e-mails about Barack’s Bantu background, and attending teabag meetings to take any notice.
Othierwise, this all sounds like an improvement. Not over singe-payer, but still, an improvement about what I’ve read about in the last few months.
In honor of Steve Benen – “Pass… The… Damn… Bill!!!”
I appreciate your political blog so much. I’m retired and now choose to spend my days painting and writing. I am also, or use to be, politically active. Hawaii is my home, but I have been living here in Baton Rouge for the last 8 years. []
You keep me informed and sane and allow me to no longer search for news on tv, which was driving me to plan on living somewhere else–france and canada come to mind. I read your buddhism columns for fortification and to keep me centered in my faith. I just stumbled upon this blog recently and my sanity has been saved. I am a firm believer in telling someone when they do a good job and you do a great job!
I appreciate you. If you have any questions on the perceptions of a lifelong liberal, politically independent, woman living in the land of bobby jindal, mary landrieu, and the beloved mr. vitter, I am always eager to help.
Love you, love your blogs and love your blog followers and their comments. I trust that you will all let me know when it’s time to invest in a passport.
me ke aloha pumehana,
stuck in baton rouge without a paddle,
kathleen
Here’s a comparison of the House, Senate & Presidnts plans by major features.
http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2010/02/22/obama-health-plan/
courtesy of Krugman
As I see it – the White House proposal will be up for almost exactly 72 hours before the Thursday meeting. This may reduce some of the criticism from wingnuts that the ‘trap’ was sprung without warning. *HERE* is the bill we will be discussing and improving on Thursday, not any previous incarnations with the flaws that enraged the voters (Nebraska & Nelson) that you want the discussion to be about.
The main risk, as I read Ezra and agree, is getting the House to approve it by a simple majority as the Democrats are now in fright of the coming elections. My guess is that if the Democrats of the House could control the issue, the matter would not come up for a vote before Nov. 2010. Obama, Pelosi and Reid see the suicide of this and will put it to a vote where the members will have to declare before the primary elections if they will stand for health care reform or not.
As far as I can tell, the provisions that prohibit a woman from purchasing a rider which would include abortion coverage was left in. I understand and agree, because some Democrats would vote against the bill if there was anything in defense of a woman’s right to choose. I hope to see that clause tested in court – AFTER the bill is passed!
Kathleen,
Welcome 🙂
Whatever you have to share about LA politics wil be welcome. They talk about Chicago, and NY (where I’m from). LA is just as bad, if not worse. But I guess every state has some leftover machines, and (no longer smoke-filled) rooms where things are decided against the people.
Hang in there, Kathleen… I’m in Nebraska!
Welcome Kathleen – among the Florida contingent.
To correct my previous comment- the WH does NOT include the Stupak amendment – wich is great news for women but raises the bar in the House. The WH plan does not include the Public Option, which the House did include in their bill and the Senate did not.