Obama Tells Congress He Likes Four GOP Ideas For Health Care

[ProSense]

Obama Tells Congress He Likes Four GOP Ideas For Health Care

Christina Bellantoni

President Obama this afternoon wrote a letter to Congressional leadership detailing four areas where he thinks Republican ideas can be included in a final health care compromise and pledging to drop the Medicaid deals for Nebraska and Florida from what he proposes tomorrow.

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"No matter how we move forward, there are at least four policy priorities identified by Republican Members at the meeting that I am exploring. I said throughout this process that I'd continue to draw on the best ideas from both parties, and I'm open to these proposals in that spirit," Obama wrote.

Those areas are as follows:

1. Although the proposal I released last week included a comprehensive set of initiatives to combat fraud, waste, and abuse, Senator Coburn had an interesting suggestion that we engage medical professionals to conduct random undercover investigations of health care providers that receive reimbursements from Medicare, Medicaid, and other Federal programs.

2. My proposal also included a provision from the Senate health reform bill that authorizes funding to states for demonstrations of alternatives to resolving medical malpractice disputes, including health courts. Last Thursday, we discussed the provision in the bills cosponsored by Senators Coburn and Burr and Representatives Ryan and Nunes (S. 1099) that provides a similar program of grants to states for demonstration projects. Senator Enzi offered a similar proposal in a health insurance reform bill he sponsored in the last Congress. As we discussed, my Administration is already moving forward in funding demonstration projects through the Department of Health and Human Services, and Secretary Sebelius will be awarding $23 million for these grants in the near future. However, in order to advance our shared interest in incentivizing states to explore what works in this arena, I am open to including an appropriation of $50 million in my proposal for additional grants. Currently there is only an authorization, which does not guarantee that the grants will be funded.

3. At the meeting, Senator Grassley raised a concern, shared by many Democrats, that
Medicaid reimbursements to doctors are inadequate in many states, and that if Medicaid
is expanded to cover more people, we should consider increasing doctor reimbursement. I'm open to exploring ways to address this issue in a fiscally responsible manner.

4. Senator Barrasso raised a suggestion that we expand Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). I know many Republicans believe that HSAs, when used in conjunction with high-
deductible health plans, are a good vehicle to encourage more cost-consciousness in consumers' use of health care services. I believe that high-deductible health plans could be offered in the exchange under my proposal, and I'm open to including language to ensure that is clear. This could help to encourage more people to take advantage of HSAs.

He also drops the special deal made for Sen. Ben Nelson in Nebraska that had the federal government covering the cost of the state's Medicaid burden and a similar provision in Florida that he and Sen. John McCain discussed during the summit.

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[Beetwasher]

1. Boxing The Repubs In

Good PR move.

[Cha]

4. Pre-cisely.

[Smashcut]

9. He's not boxing anyone in.

They STILL WON'T VOTE FOR IT.

[Beetwasher]

11. Of Course He Is, That's The Point

That's why they're boxed in. They're fucked and looking unreasonable. They CAN'T vote for it and they look horrible because of it.

That's what boxed in means.

[Smashcut]

12. What difference does it make then?

None.

They don't care about looking horrible. They have no shame, and the backlash to the private mandate will give them all the distraction they need to turn this against the Dems.

So at the end of the day, we end up passing Republican ideas they didn't even vote for, to make them look bad. Which probably won't even work.

Seems to me the only purpose of this move is to make Obama look good, by showing that his "health care summit" actually accomplished something.

Unless the goal was really to serve the same masters as the Republicans all along...

[Name removed]

13. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Smashcut]

10. .

[lordcommander]

2. ...and watch the GOP vote against it.

K&R anyways.

[Pirate Smile]

5. Of course they will but we will have more arguments to use against them and it may provide

cover for mushy-Dems to vote for it.

[Supersedeas]

19. anything short of scapping Healthcare Reform for the benefit of Big HMO/Big Pharma Execs will not

fly for the lock-steps gooses in the GOP.

[vaberella]

25. Of course they will. Causing them to eat themselves some more. n/t

[Deep13]

3. That's fine and all, but the Rs and the traitor-Dems will still stonewall it. nt

[jefferson_dem]

6. Obama To GOP: I’m Thinkin’ Of Ya...But we're moving forward... SUCKERS!

Obama To GOP: I’m Thinkin’ Of Ya

Laying the groundwork for tomorrow’s announcement of the way forward on health care, President Obama just fired off a letter to Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress, informing them that he likes some Republican ideas for reform.

But make no mistake: The letter’s real message is that on the big stuff, Obama and Dems are moving forward alone.

“The Republican and Democratic approaches to health care have more in common than most people think,” Obama wrote, sounding a conciliatory tone. “No matter how we move forward, there are at least four policy priorities identified by Republican Members at the meeting that I am exploring.”

Among those ideas: Getting medical pros to do random undercover investigations of health care providers, and creating alternate ways of resolving medical malpractice disputes. Obama also said he’d junk the backroom deals in the Senate bill, as expected.

But Obama left little doubt that he’s moving forward with his expansive vision of reform that cracks down on the insurance industry and deals with the problem of 30 million uninsured — with our without Repubicans:

I believe that we must hold the insurance industry to clear rules, so they can’t arbitrarily raise rates or reduce or eliminate coverage. That must be a part of any serious reform to make it work for the many Americans who have insurance coverage today, as well as those who don’t. I also believe that piecemeal reform is not the best way to effectively reduce premiums, end the exclusion of people with pre-existing conditions or offer Americans the security of knowing that they will never lose coverage, even if they lose or change jobs.

The nice talk is all about laying the groundwork for Dems to go forward alone starting tomorrow. Full letter here.

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/senate-republicans/obama-to-gop-im-thinkin-of-ya/

[ProSense]

8. Exactly. n/t

[Blue_In_AK]

7. Number 3 certainly applies in Alaska

where seniors have extremely limited choices when it comes to primary care. In Anchorage, basically the only option Medicare patients have is the Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center.

http://www.adn.com/2009/03/25/736149/city-doctors-turn-away-new-medicare.html

Only 13 of 75 primary care doctors surveyed in Anchorage are willing to accept new Medicare patients, according to a study by the Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

And only five primary care doctors here who accept new Medicare patients are in private practice. The rest work in publicly supported health care centers or limited service urgent-care clinics.

"There's a major problem in Anchorage," wrote study co-authors Mark Foster and Rosyland Frazier -- who interviewed 229 primary care physicians or their staff members statewide.

"As more Alaskans turn 65, the access problem will get worse, unless something changes."

Stories are increasingly told of Anchorage doctors refusing to accept new patients on Medicare, which pays them about two-thirds as much as private insurance companies pay them. But those reports have mostly been anecdotal. Now the ISER study says they're mostly true.

<snip>

Since we're fast approaching Medicare age, this is of some concern to us. I haven't asked my doctor yet if she's going to drop me when I turn 65 ... I'm kind of afraid to.



ed. oops, I thought they were talking about Medicare, not Medicaid. The situation is probably similar, though.

[Enrique]

14. GOP: those things are now socialist

Socialist!

[Mass]

15. Recompensing the GOP for bad behaviour. They will not vote for the bill.

In the same time, he punishes liberals by not pushing the public option (let alone single payer), while supporting HSA, that is only useful for rich people.

I like 1 and 3, which are not Republican ideas, but common sense ideas.

I dislike 4, as you can see, and do not think 2 is very useful.

[KingFlorez]

16. What is their move now?

Voting against their own ideas won't look good and the risk alienating their base if they vote for the bill. Obama is good at drawing the GOP into a corner.

[bvar22]

17. Now Tort Reform and HC Savings Accounts?

Not much left to give away to The Republicans who are STILL going to oppose it.

Has Obama heard ANY "Democratic" ideas he has liked?:shrug:

BTW: "Health Care Savings Accounts" should scare any REAL Democrat.
They ARE the first step in giving FICA money to Wall Street.


"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans. I want us to compete for that great mass of voters that want a party that will stand up for working Americans, family farmers, and people who haven't felt the benefits of the economic upturn."---Paul Wellstone

[gateley]

18. Let's not do what THEY do -- dismiss any proposal out of hand because it comes

from the Enemy! From time to time, they do come up with good ideas!

Although I think Obama should give up the ghost about getting Republican support, he doesn't commit to any of these items. And I strongly agree with #3 -- increasing physician reimbursement for Medicare. I'm disappointed our side didn't make that proposal.

But none of these seem to be harmful, which is the most we can hope for IF Obama is still reaching across the aisle.

I'm hoping, though, that this is just for show and he's ready to go full speed ahead with Reconciliation and PO.

[GinaMaria]

20. Medicaid not Medicare

From the OP
Medicaid reimbursements to doctors are inadequate in many states, and that if Medicaid
is expanded to cover more people, we should consider increasing doctor reimbursement. I'm open to exploring ways to address this issue in a fiscally responsible manner.

Medicaid will reimburse Drs at a higher rate not Medicare, is the point of this. It likely means more $ for states to pay Docs for Medicaid cases and he is open to this if it is fiscally responsible. Not sure what that caveat means but is it fiscally responsible to give more money to the states? I say yes, but I'm not the least bit conservative.

[gateley]

23. Okay - thanks for the clarification. And I still agree with it being fair and needed.nt

[GinaMaria]

28. They are easy to mix up especially when reading quickly

but just wanted to clarify since one is state run and the other federal. Also higher Medicare payments would get people on board the Medicare for all band wagon. Several people I know do not support Medicare for all because medicare does not pay docs enough. Just want to make sure no one thought Medicare payment rates were going up (though I would celebrate that)as it has implications for HCR and what people will or won't support. Medicaid desperately needs the financial support. Medicare giving docs a pay boost would push more people toward the Medicare for All and that doesn't seem to be what our elected officials want.

[phleshdef]

21. He is basically making them vote against their own few ideas that have any merit.

And ramming through healthcare for 30 million more while doing it. People can say what they want. Obama just is about to beat the shit out of political conventional wisdom.

[vaberella]

26. Entertaining, isn't it?! That will kill them in the elections. n/t

[Oregone]

22. HSAs suck fat cock

[depakid]

24. Basically, another tax scam for wealthy

I look at this whole deal as sort of a dry run for the prospect of dealing with Republican majorities in 2011.

[lovelyrita]

27. Why can't he tell them that he supports real health care reform?

Single-payer or at least a public option that is open to all. The proposals he has made are already compromised, why would he pretend things like Tort Reform or HSA's do anything to help the health care crisis in this country?

I guess it's difficult to do the right thing when you are owned by the corporations and feel some strange need to appease those that will never support you.

[IndianaGreen]

29. and he dismisses us when we propose Single Payer and the Public Option

Who in the hell he thinks got him elected, the Republicans?

[PurityOfEssence]

30. Shades of the Stimulus...

Even by sucking up to the reactionaries, watering the legislation down and throwing sop after Christmas presents to them, they still won't vote for it.

The stimulus fucked up our balance sheet with idiotic tax cuts and blew the whole point of a stimulus: immediacy. What we got was an IV drip of mild vitamins when we needed a shot of adrenalin in the form of direct government hiring and jobs-intensive initiatives, rather than sashaying about with pride that 90% of the money goes through private enterprise. Shocking, but even after that display of timidity with actual robust government intervention and fucking up the balance sheet with unnecessary tax cuts, he's STILL tarred as a socialist and none of them votes for it. Big victory. Yay!

Same thing here. No lessons have been learned.

Stop bringing them flowers, they hate you anyway.

On the good side of things, SOMETHING will probably be passed, and it will be some kind of a baby-step forward.

Most depressing.

Health Savings Accounts just reek.

[Supersedeas]

31. In response, because Repigs despise the idea of Health Care Reform, R's will call any gesture

toward compromise, just political cover.