The White House is taking another shot at health care reform with a new middle-of-the-road plan.
The White House is taking another shot at health care reform with a new middle-of-the-road plan.
CNN.com reports that the new plan, approved Sunday and unveiled today, seeks to give both parties some of what they want. An outline of the bill includes increased insurance subsidies that would citizens purchase coverage, and it would allow the federal government power to stop insurance companies from imposing outrageous rate hikes.
The measure also fills in the prescription drug “donut hole” in Medicare, and it cuts a Democratic provision that would excuse Nebraska from paying higher Medicaid expenses.
Unfortunately, the plan does not include a public option, which Republicans have been battling against for months. However, the White House said it be budget-friendly because it would shrink the national debt by $100 over the next decade.
No set price has been announced for the comprise plan, but it could cost about $871 billion.
Now that the Obama administration has drafted a new bill, it is pushing Republican leaders to come up with their own alternate plan before a congressional healthcare summit on Thursday. The event will be broadcast, and a White House rep said the president will oversee the meeting with “open mind.”
– Sonya Eskridge
Here’s more:
House gets health care reform bill
Senate panel passes health care reform bill
President pushes health care reform
President preps for address
