Health Care Slogs Through Finance Committee

Will Baucus Doctor Healthcare Reform?Healthcare reform has taken on a new meaning over the last few months- reforming, as in forming or creating again, is what is happening to the healthcare legislation. There are 5 senate committees trying to make this happen, but the one getting all the press right now and the one with probably the most chance of getting passed and through is the one coming out of the Finance Committee, shepherded by Max Baucus.

It’s looking good right now for the bill, as Baucus has made it through the first week of debate in the bill with the main pillars of his version untouched. There is even word that Republican senator Olympia Snowe may back the final version. Her support is emerging as key to the bill’s chances. Right now the Democrats hold a 60 vote majority in the Senate with no room to lose even one vote.

"The battle lines are taking shape. The Democrats appear very disciplined, and it's pretty clear that Snowe might still support this thing -- which is what they need,” said Len Nichols, director of health policy at the New America Foundation.

Beyond the public option, another sticking point is the requirement of individual insurance.

"They need a breakthrough moment where they find some middle ground, and I still think at the end of the day they will find it," said Bob Blendon, a health policy and political analyst at Harvard University.

"There is no reason for people who are going to move over and compromise to do it early. You have your maximum advantage by taking your time. The people who are going to compromise haven't done it yet."

Ah, politics.

Will the compromise included the public option, though? This seems to be the cornerstone of Obama’s overall plan- he wants the government to provide healthcare for those who can’t afford it or can’t get it any other way. Sure, requiring everyone to have insurance and then providing a super-low-cost option through a non-profit option is a workable idea, but it’s not a public option. It’s interesting that the non-profit or other similar option would be more acceptable to insurance company lobbyists, especially if their major concern is cost undercutting- won’t a cheap version from a nonprofit be just the same, cost-wise, as having a government-run public option?

I can’t believe the private insurance companies are truly interested in preserving some kind of capitalist system for the sake of political freedom from socialism- right?  

"The committee is what starts the debate and gets people thinking. As the process moves on, for the public option and for some other things, it gets better and better," said Democrat Charles Schumer.Schumer believes that the public option may not be part of the committee version but would receive stronger support in the House and the full Senate.

The House is also working on this- working to turn three versions of the bill into one that can be dealt with on the floor- Speaker of the House Nancy Peolosi said: "We are narrowing the number of issues we have to deal with.”

We just may see a resurgence of the public option.