Senate Finance Committee Passes Quasi-Public Option Amendment
source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/01/senate-committee-passes-q_n_306831.html
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- bansheewail
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The Senate Finance Committee narrowly passed an amendment Thursday from Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) that moves the conservative panel as close as it will likely get to a public health insurance option.
The amendment creates a "federally funded, non-Medicaid, state plan which combines the innovation and quality of private sector competition with the purchasing power of the states," according to an overview.
It would be available to people with incomes above Medicaid eligibility but below 200 percent of the federal poverty level -- a very narrow window. However, Republicans fear -- and progressives hope -- that once the plan becomes law there will be pressure to expand it.
The plan would not be free. It is based on Washington state's Basic Health plan, which costs roughly 60 dollars a month, with the remainder of the premium subsidized by the state.
Private insurers would be eligible to participate in the plan, as would HMOs or other networks of health care providers.
The amendment has been gathering steam all week and was the subject of an extended private session of the finance committee Thursday afternoon before the vote, chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) said.
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/01/senate-committee-passes-q_n_306831.html
The amendment creates a "federally funded, non-Medicaid, state plan which combines the innovation and quality of private sector competition with the purchasing power of the states," according to an overview.
It would be available to people with incomes above Medicaid eligibility but below 200 percent of the federal poverty level -- a very narrow window. However, Republicans fear -- and progressives hope -- that once the plan becomes law there will be pressure to expand it.
The plan would not be free. It is based on Washington state's Basic Health plan, which costs roughly 60 dollars a month, with the remainder of the premium subsidized by the state.
Private insurers would be eligible to participate in the plan, as would HMOs or other networks of health care providers.
The amendment has been gathering steam all week and was the subject of an extended private session of the finance committee Thursday afternoon before the vote, chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) said.
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/01/senate-committee-passes-q_n_306831.html
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Bren589
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Voted up and hoping for the best
- 2 years ago
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Bren589
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Progresshiv
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It is a start but not enough.
- 2 years ago
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Progresshiv
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artemis6
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Go maria ! We will take this and run with it .
- 2 years ago
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artemis6
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neocongo
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Voted up in defiance of the $380 million the insurance and related industries have spent to prevent all Americans from having access to healthcare since President Obama took office.
- 2 years ago
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neocongo
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hunzedog
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voted down. untill we get all the corruption out of washington they cannot be trusted with americans healthcare.
- 2 years ago
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hunzedog
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bansheewail
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Vote this up.
It is starting. PUSH!!!!
- 2 years ago
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bansheewail
