Does Obama’s New-Found Flexibility Open Door for State Single-Payer Systems?
- Posted on February 28, 2011 at 6:10pm by
Meredith Jessup
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While half the country is fighting to rescind President Barack Obama’s signature health care overhaul, the president offered a “concession” Monday to let unhappy states design their own alternative plans under the scope of the ObamaCare law. This new flexibility may mark the “most significant change” since the law was enacted, but what might these changes mean in a practical sense?
According to Politico’s Ben Smith, a source on a White House conference call with liberal allies Monday said the new flexibility would allow Democrats to offer more expansive health care plans than the one Congress passed:
Health care advisers Nancy-Ann DeParle and Stephanie Cutter stressed on the off-record call that the rule change would allow states to implement single-payer health care plans — as Vermont seeks to — and true government-run plans, like Connecticut’s Sustinet.
The source on the call summarizes the officials’ point — which is not one the Administration has sought to make [publicly] — as casting the new “flexibility” language as an opportunity to try more progressive, not less expansive, approaches on the state level.
“They are trying to split the baby here: on one hand tell supporters this is good for their pet issues, versus a message for the general public that the POTUS is responding to what he is hearing and that he is being sensible,” the source emails.
Some states supporting the president’s health care plan are looking to implement further health care regulations, including Vermont which is pursuing a single-payer system.
“Administration official discussed how this legislation would help give states the opportunity to innovate,” one administration aide later tried to clarify. “States have the flexibility to design plans in the way that works for them, so long as they meet the shared goals of reform. That could be any number of proposals from exchanges like the Utah model to other innovations that increase choice and competition.”
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chicago76
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 8:48pmHe said nothing new. There was no flexibility. He said,”You can do it or we will do it for you.” Where is the flexibility? That’s like saying, “Here’s a gun. You can commit suicide or I will shoot you.”
Report Post »nolefan2
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:35pmDo NOT trust this man.
Report Post »1chicagoan
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 12:17pmSomeone must have finally whispered in Obumers ear that his healthcare act is in fact financially inept. So in his infinite wisdom deceided to punt it to the states so they can regroup and impliment their own versions. This way, when the healthcare plans are implemented by the states and they fail, Obumer can take the lead and say that his plan would have worked. But he ‘listened’ to the people and allowed them to improve his plan and it failed. This way he can walk away with his political record intact. He is truely dangerous and inept. When will the average American wake up and see him for what he truely is? He is so way in over his head. I doubt he could effectively run the Chicago Sanitation Department without union help!
Report Post »dancermommd
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 7:32amI have contacted all my democratic representatives and all I get are their form letters telling me how good everything is going to be. It makes me sick! They don’t even address the issues I raise in my letters. I can’t wait to vote them all out. I am just sad we couldn’t get rid of our Rep Connelly in this last election. Hopefully we will in the next one.
Report Post »grimmjsb
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 5:31amI do not like that Uncle Sam Do you like Obamacare?
I do not like it, Uncle Sam. I do not like Obamacare.
Would you like it Here or there? I would not like it here or there.
I would not like it anywhere. Would you like it in your state?
Would you like it that rate? I do not like it in my state.
I do not like it at that rate. I do not like it here or there.
I do not like it anywhere.I do not like Obamacare.
I do not like it, Uncle Sam.
Fed of State its just as bad and it will still accomplish there ends.
Report Post »Say no. Don’t let it conversation move from yes or no to where, that will only create acceptance and negate our choices.
justice
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 4:55amThe repubs and tea party members need to defund this bill and defund Obamas IRS funding for more gov’t to watch over us. Put pressure on your Congressman or Women.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 5:30amAlso put pressure on each of the state governors and represenatives not to enact these back door maneuvers to enact single payer medical reforms that will guarantee the gutting of the health care system and each states economy as well.
Report Post »EqualLiberty
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:46amI think it depends on how it all comes out in the end doesn’t it? I mean saying and doing is two different things right? So is saying and meaning it. Saying and lying about it. Saying and covertly meaning to something else. Saying and obscuring the truth. Yea they all mean different things to me.
Report Post »I’m so tired of the health care thing. Just go back to the old way of doing things but do tort reform and allow insurance companies to compete across state lines and you would see instant benefits I think. You might even give some tax incentives for “new insurance companies that have no prior existence as insurance companies” so that the insurance companies would remain lively in their competition for our business and not sit on the profits (They would be compelled to offer good rates to compete).
Where I live, since this new law has been passed, health costs have already gone up, quality of health care has already gone down, and the worst is still years away. It’s really sad that things have come to this in America. What ever happened to doing what made sense? Like for real sense not, “well let‘s just explain it away and it won’t REALLY be a problem” sense.
1TrueOne55
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 1:43amAnd I wonder if the Massachusetts healthcare plan is working for them. From what I read it is failing on all points that it tried to fix. And Single Payer can only work when your society has a different mind set. We don’t have that yet.
I prefer the freedoms I have but then I can also see other side, because I have family that live in Europe and the way they do it looks enticing but I am not living there to say for sure how it works.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 5:29amThere is an article on the Drudge Report about this matter in which the POTUS is mentioned that during a conference call with the Democratic governors that it does open the back door for a single payer health care system. This has to be spread around the nation, and the warning call given, for with this maneuver, they can enact any and all manner of health care inititives they seek while at the same time bypassing any decision of the US Supreme Court.
For the reason is, it seems, the administration knows a loss is most likely in the US Supreme Court unless a miracle happens, and at the state level this will take decades on a state by state basis to undo and overturn while at the same time gaining affirmation for the federal legislation as well.
Basically, as many of us have wondered following the POTUS speech today, the other fist has now been shown.
Report Post »Jackers
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 8:09amWe must repeal and replace! Out with this 2,700-page monstrosity of a Health Care/Redistribution of Wealth scheme, and IN with common sense methods to lower health care costs for all…
Report Post »OneFunR6
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 10:27am1TrueOne55,
THIS is NOT about HEALTHCARE ——–
This IS ABOUT CONTROL……..
of YOU and YOUR BODY!
‘You’ “DO” as ‘WE’ say…….
‘you’ get ‘healthcare’,…………
‘you’ don’t? YOU DIE.
FOOD AND ENERGY CONTROL WILL BE COMING NEXT.
For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery;…
…it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth,…
For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.
Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation;…
There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free– if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending–if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained–we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!
There is no retreat but in submission and slavery!
The war is inevitable–and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter.
Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace– but there is no peace.
The war is actually begun!
What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
PATRICK HENRY -Speech made in the House of Burgesses on March 23, 1775, in Saint John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia.
Report Post »1chicagoan
Posted on March 1, 2011 at 12:31pmMy late wife was born in Berlin and having visited Germany numerous times, and talking with her relatives there, it has alot to be desired. At the beginning, it worked fairly well. Then the Berlin wall came down. Their system was overwhelmed with easterners taking advantage of their existing system with out contributing to it. The ultimate cost to the Berliner’s was chaotic. Long line’s for Emergency care, shortened doctor visits, and long periods of time to even schedule an MD visit. It also resulted in far fewer benefits due to costs. Does any of this sound familiar?
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