H.R. 676 (Single Payer) will get a CBO score

[rmp yellow]

Ezra Klein of the Washington Post, yesterday:

"Speaking of CBO scores, the agency is also scoring H.R. 676, John Conyer's single-payer proposal. This is a byproduct of the deal Waxman and Pelosi struck with the House Progressive Caucus to allow the bill a full floor vote. In order to do that, it needs a CBO score. And it's going to get one. I'm really looking forward to seeing those numbers."

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2009/09/scoring_single-payer.html

[polichick]

1. I'm really looking forward to seeing those numbers too! nt

[andym]

2. I really hope that it shows far better cost containment than any of the current bills

That will be any eye-opener for the moderates in congress!

[Divine Discontent]

3. well, one would THINK the budget office's score should show significant containment, yes?

hmm, this could be very interesting if it's a very positive report.

[Orsino]

4. But will we ever get to see the score? n/t

[Strong Atheist]

5. Welcome to DU!

:toast:

[JimWis]

6. That's good news. I was wondering about that promise to score

it. I am anxious to see the results too. I hope they are publicized.

Thanks for the info. Welcome to DU.

[slipslidingaway]

7. Welcome to DU :) The NY Times just had a negative piece about SP...

so maybe the CBO score will be released soon, see the below articles from 1993.

:shrug:


NYT Slams Single-Payer

Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting
9/22/09

Action Alert

http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/september/nyt_slams_singlepay.php

"The New York Times devoted some rare space on September 20 to discussing single-payer (or Medicare-for-all) health reform. The result? A one-sided account of why such a system couldn’t work.

With a headline like “Medicare for All? ‘Crazy,’ ‘Socialized’ and Unlikely,” readers probably had a sense of what the Times had in mind with the piece.."



May 12,1993

Second article on this page...
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Norman_Solomon/Violence_TV_TTMLG.html

"...Instead, they gathered in front of the New York Times building, and their demand was simple: "Stop rationing health care news!" The protesters are angry over the fact that the newspaper's reporting routinely downplays a popular proposal-endorsed by 12 of New York City's 14 members of Congress-to overhaul the American health system: a singlepayer system of publicly-financed health care.

Poll after poll has shown that most Americans favor tax-financed national health insurance. But at the New York Times and other national media, proponents are kept at the periphery of the health care debate. They include 58 members of Congress who, on March 3 <1993>, introduced a bill-"The American Health Security Act"-to establish a Canadian-style, single-payer system..."



Extra! July/August 1993

Healthcare Reform: Not Journalistically Viable?

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1519

"In an October 1992 editorial, the New York Times proclaimed that "the debate over healthcare reform is over. Managed competition has won." This outcome, the Times announced (10/10/92), was "delicious" and "wondrous."

...The media slant in favor of managed competition seen before the 1992 election (see Extra!, 1-2/93) continues. While the phrase "managed competition" appeared in 62 New York Times news stories in the six months following the 1992 election, "single-payer" appeared in only five news stories during that period--never in more than a single-sentence mention.


...The justification media managers give for the imbalance of attention is that while managed competition is supported by the Clinton administration, a single-payer system is not "politically viable." What this means is that news judgements are based on elite preferences, not on popular opinion: The New York Times' own polling since 1990 has consistently found majorities--ranging from 54 percent to 66 percent--in favor of tax-financed national health insurance..."

[joeycola]

20. yes, very one-sided. I read that yesteday.

[slipslidingaway]

23. Disappointing yes, unexpected no...here is the NY Times link for others...

http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/19/medicare-for-all-crazy-socialized-and-unlikely/#comment-28137

[BlooInBloo]

8. I'll LOVE seeing that compared to the others.

[prostomulgus]

9. I just hope that our side got to the CBO

before the Ins. Cos. did. Hopefully, somebody in the WH was able to impress on the CBO how important it is to have good numbers.

[dflprincess]

10. The White House is not supporting single payer

I'd be more worried about them pressing the importance of making the "Save the Insurance Companies" bill look better.

[slipslidingaway]

13. The WH does not want good numbers, they have done a favor...

for the insurance companies by dismissing SP.

[Oregone]

11. The problem with single-payer, is that it will appear to cost money

The reason being: the individual will pay taxes to fund it rather than pay it out of pocket. The end result is everyone getting a better service at half the price, but people may perceive it as a tax raise to fund the spending (which goes from private providers to a government payer)

OTOH, if 60% of medical funding is already through the government, I wonder how much of that would be eliminated/replaced with a single-payer system (not the VA, or course). So some of the increase will be mitigated.

It will be interesting to see the numbers.

[dflprincess]

12. People might accept the tax

once they figure out they're no longer paying all or part of a premium to a private insurer and their other out of pocket health care expenses (deductibles and copays) have dropped. If people don't have to worry about how they're going to pay for a visit to the doctor or what will happen if they need on going treatments, they'll appreciate single payer.

They may even see their employer able to provide other benefits or even a wage increase if the employer is no longer being shaken down by the insurance companies.

[DrToast]

14. Right. Single payer will get a terrible CBO score

All the private spending will be moved to government spending, which is the only thing the CBO counts.

[ProudDad]

16. If done right, employers will also pay a payroll tax for part of it (n/t)

[Oregone]

17. The end spending is still federal, vs personal

So it will appear to increase government spending.

[ProudDad]

28. Ok...

Just like Social Security...

It would funnel all health care premiums through a Federal Fund...

And cut off the for-profit leeches in the insurance mafia...

And negotiate reasonable drug prices with big PhRMA...

And streamline all billing...

And save probably $400 BILLION a year to start...

And control excessive cost increases...

And give better Health Care...

Of course, if this were a rational country instead of an evil world empire, we'd cut the war budget by 50 - 75% and thus LOWER overall government spending...

But it's not...

[lumberjack_jeff]

22. Does HR676 replace medicare/medicaid/va hospitals? n/t

[slipslidingaway]

24. Medicare, medicaid and SCHIP are included, initially the VA and Indian Health...

will remain independent.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-676

"TITLE IV--ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 401. TREATMENT OF VA AND IHS HEALTH PROGRAMS.

(a) VA Health Programs- This Act provides for health programs of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to initially remain independent for the 10-year period that begins on the date of the establishment of the USNHC Program. After such 10-year period, the Congress shall reevaluate whether such programs shall remain independent or be integrated into the USNHC Program.

(b) Indian Health Service Programs- This Act provides for health programs of the Indian Health Service to initially remain independent for the 5-year period that begins on the date of the establishment of the USNHC Program, after which such programs shall be integrated into the USNHC Program."

[andym]

26. "People may perceive it as a tax raise" has always been a serious roadblock to single-payer

I agree, not only may people perceive it as a tax raise, it is a tax raise. True, it will be offset by total lower costs for everyone. People will ultimately save money, but the anti-tax sentiment is so strong in the USA that they will have great difficulty accepting policy which will benefit them.

Raising taxes should not be a problem, but too many Americans have bought into the idea of "no new taxes." Especially since Reagan's time. If we ever want single-payer this has to change.

[ProudDad]

15. Let the games begin (n/t)

[Wilms]

18. k&r n/t

[Thrill]

19. The CBO won't give it a good score.

They are typically conservative with numbers.

[joeycola]

21. anyone know how long this takes?

[slipslidingaway]

25. No and nobody seems to know, I've made dozens of calls just...

trying to find out if it is in fact being scored.

Supposedly they are not scoring HR 676 but the Weiner amendment, which they say will be similar. Where can you read the amendment ??? according to Weiner's office you cannot.

People need to make a pest of themselves and call Weiner's office, Pelosi, Miller, Waxman etc.

IMO people backed off from calling once they heard it was being scored...we do not need a score the day before the vote.

[joeycola]

32. I had made a few calls myself and got nothing.

[slipslidingaway]

35. Exactly, which is why IMO people should continue calling and not...

sit back thinking it is being done. Plus we do not even know exactly what it is they are scoring, I think it is bizarre that nobody can give any details.

:shrug:

[joeycola]

33. PS. I am not even sure it is indeed being scored by the cbo!!

[slipslidingaway]

36. That is what I wanted to verify with my initial calls. n/t

[and-justice-for-all]

27. Single Payer!! Because it is the right thing to do!! nt

[Norrin Radd]

29. kr

[dpbrown]

30. This is seriously good news

If the CBO scores it correctly, it should show the massive savings of a single-payer plan.

[dccrossman]

31. Kick to keep live

This will be good news. Be sure to post the link to the CBO score when it comes available.

[LWolf]

34. Glad to hear it. nt

[stevenleser]

37. K&R

:popcorn:

[Kaleva]

38. Good!

[xchrom]

39. kick