Baucus Makes $28 Billion in Changes Pre-Mark Up

Jay Newton-Small:
.
How likely are amendments:

1) Rockefeller Amendment 187–establishes a public option that is tied to Medicare plus 5% rates with the ability to negotiate drug prices, and has an “opt-out” provider network.

and

2) Wyden Amendment 248–ensures affordable access to health insurance exchange plans for all Americans. This basically would open up the public option to all Americans in addition to private plans in the exchange instead of the current firewall of uninsured Americans and small businesses.

and

3) Rockefeller Amendment 185–creates one national exchange, and strikes state exchanges and regional exchanges.

to be “incorporated into it“?

Polishing a byproduct again, aren’t we?

StuartZechman,
No very likely. Baucus said before he even dropped the bill that no amendments that hugely change the bill would be accepted. Most of the finagling will be to increase the subsidies and to lower the ceiling from 13% of income.
JNS

Thanks so much for responding to commentary with that clarfication, Jay Newton-Small, it is greatly appreciated!

Thanks, Jay. You rock. Is KT off today or undercover disguised as an insurance lobbyist to get a scoop on HC lobby payoffs, etc.? (why I asked – it appears that the “swamp team” kicks in more posts from everyone when she’s away, just wondering) Anyhow, I’m concerned about so much legislation focus on insurance and less so on the health care itself (other readers here have said this in more detail). re: penalties for no ins., I suggested to KT (frequently, probably driving her to tears) that instead of penalties let’s have an automatic system similar so SSI: once you’re on the grid, you’re already signed up and paying tax for it, so declare your crappy private policy or pick the public option already. Now you get to read this, yay. …and btw, playing spell check, there is a tiny error of 500+ amends. from “Democrat and Republicans”. I’m not teasing you; quite the opposite, but it is risible. Given bipartisan consensus over this bill …against it… who is the ONE Dem. that supports it? Ben “Mutual of Omaha” Nelson, perhaps? But I digress. Thanks again, Jay.

deconstructiva,
KT’s not off but she’s otherwise engaged. You’ll hear from here tomorrow morning, if not sooner. I fixed the typo — thanks!
As to your point about penalties — I see your point and it’s interesting, though keep in mind many non Americans have SSN #s, which would be a complication. Also, how would you expand coverage to those not earning, say housewives, students — and perhaps most crucially — to the unemployed?
JNS

Jay,
What are Rockefeller and Wyden saying now about opposing a bill without those changes? Did their meetings with Obama change their position?

(this is long reply, sorry) Jay, remember that under certain conditions these people can collect some SSI, including housewives who never worked if their husbands have. And unemployed folks (including me) have paid in. KT has compared the exchanges / co-ops / etc. to pools, and I see SSI as the biggest pool of all. Most people will be working at some time in their lives, so most will add to the kitty. I’m not directly saying SSI should be part of the HC pool, but it can be similar. Should Medicare be expanded to all? Maybe. Should there be single payer? Absolutely. But if not now, then set up a public option. But have everyone pitch in / no op-outs to avoid Maine’s Dirigo problem (not mandatory for all, ask KT).
.
So that I can take the hit instead of YOU, does this mean “socialized medicine”, whatever that is that many other countries do? Yes. Absolutely. Deal with it already, RW commenters (don’t bother replying, others don’t). Everyone signed in to HC’s version of SSI gets coverage and paid for by some fair taxation + money saved from scaling back Iraq / Afghan, etc. KT has seen this before (ask her, then stand waaaay back), but my utopia has basic HC services run like police and fire departments. Police protection costs a few hundred per person per year. Is it worth it? Ask rural communities who had to drop their police depts. and rely on sheriffs.
.
Alas, as stuart has pointed out, HC costs here are double those in other countries, definitely in the thousands. States and local govts. can’t pick up this tab on top of police / fire, so THAT’s where Federal Socialized Medicine Funding, Inc.[tm] comes in. There can be a parallel private HC network for those can pay + for truly elective stuff such as *non-essential* plastic surgery. And yes, RW’s, some doctors will play nice and practice public medicine; some wish to heal people as well as make $. There’s almost no research out there on this (I’ve looked). It’s simply a do-the-right-thing idea where we all take care of each other to some degree. But someone came up with this first, so please give props to Cenk Uygur per link below. I’ll promise to minimize repeating this to you and KT (give her my apologies) …if you all will do something. We need to find fresh ideas to fix this mess. Maybe looking at health *care* instead of just *insurance*, yes?
.
…and yes, any insurance must be forbidden from pre-existing conditions, denied claims, dropped policies, and practicing medicine without a license (i.e., making treatments decisions / not that can affect – or kill – people…and KT’s heard THAT a lot from me). I’m done, whew, sorry to you and KT. Thx.
where it all began – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cenk-uygur/socialized-police_b_55698.html

…btw, can you imagine private police forces? (“Robocop” is a violent cartoonish movie, therefore I love it. Look at the subplot: what happens when a private police corp.’s top officer is a criminal and manipulates the system for his own gain? Arresting him with his own police is not so easy. Not pretty.) Or private fire insurance? THAT does exist (from AIG) – check out this video from CNBC’s Jane Wells. Watch how she gives an AIG rep enough rope to hang himself and look greedy (sweet!). Why don’t they protect neighboring homes, hmmm? but I digress. I’m really done now; thanks Jay for letting me rant. I feel cleansed.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232/?video=928542265&play=1

I’m told that they’re still waiting to hear exactly which amendments of their are being adopted into the mark. I think they’ll probably have something to say after the 5:30 meeting tonight. I’ll keep ya’ll posted with what I hear. JNS

Jay Newton-Small:
.
Thanks so much!

[...] What’s another $28 billion? [...]