Reid clarifies public option comments

[SpartanDem]

Reid: My Public Option Would Be Private In Name Only

During a Friday tele-town hall event, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told constituents that he doesn't think the public option ought to be a government run program like Medicare, but instead favors a "private entity that has direction from the federal government so people that don't fall within the parameters of being able to get insurance from their employers, they would have a place to go."

Today, a Reid spokesperson tells me, "he idea is that could contract with a third-party administrator to do the administrative stuff. It would still be policies set by HHS."

Though this isn't the reform community's first preference, it is something they could get behind.

According to Richard Kirsch, National Campaign Manager for Health Care for America Now, such an arrangement might work out OK.

The public option "doesn't have to be a government agency, though we'd prefer it," Kirsch said. "The entity would have to be accountable to the public, it's risks borne by the public, and its policies set by a public entity.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/09/reid-my-public-option-would-be-private-in-name-only.php?ref=fpb

[DrToast]

1. Isn't Medicare privately administered?

I don't really have a problem with that.

[SpartanDem]

4. There was confusion as to what he meant

some thought he was leaning toward co-ops. And yes Medicare does contract out some thing from todays article: "Medicare, for instance, contracts out certain administrative tasks to private parties, but its prices and policies are set by the government, which bears all of the risk, and the program is accountable to voters--not to shareholders or a board of directors."


Reid Muddies Water: I'm For Public Option--So Long As It's Private

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/08/does-harry-reid-want-co-ops-over-the-public-option.php

[ProSense]

5. "he doesn't think the public option ought to be a government run program like Medicare"

Somebody is confused. Everyone knows what Medicare is, and there doesn't need to be all this confusion. Pass the HELP bill in its current form. That will clear up all the confusion.

[madfloridian]

6. Only the private Medicare Advantage plans are privately run.

The traditional Medicare which is being destroyed by the private plans and all the money the govt is giving them is government run.

[Nite Owl]

2. Why pay a privite entity?

It will only cost more, that's what makes Medicare's costs less.

[Laelth]

10. That's exactly my question. Why?

What would be the benefit of having a private company do it? None.

:dem:

-Laelth

[ProSense]

3. That's a clarification?

"The entity would have to be accountable to the public, it's risks borne by the public, and its policies set by a public entity."

Of the risks are borne by the public, it should be a government run program.

Pass Kennedy's HELP bill. Period.

[tblue]

7. Sheesh! Doesn't he know the KISS rule? 'KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID!"

Great job mucking up an already garbled message. Is Reid really the best we can do for Majority Leader?

[phleshdef]

8. If it starts out as a not-for profit entity and is regulated by HHS, then thats a fine start...

Just like medicare and social security, we can make it better from there.

[ProSense]

9. Why go backward?

Medicare is already proven to work. The public option should be government run, and then we can make it better from there.

[Arkana]

11. Harry Reid is like Droopy.

"You know what? I'd like a privately run public option with privates."