Possible compromise emerges in health care debate

[slipslidingaway]

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jun/10/us-health-overhaul-061009/?politics&zIndex=113948

Thread here...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5823820&mesg_id=5823820


"WASHINGTON — A potential compromise emerged Wednesday on one of the most vexing issues of the health care overhaul debate – whether to create a new government-sponsored health plan to compete with private insurers. The compromise offered by Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., would create health care cooperatives owned by groups of residents and small businesses, similar to how electric or other cooperatives operate.

They'd be nonprofit, and without the government involvement that troubles Republicans and business groups about the public plan options.

The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Max Baucus of Montana, said Wednesday the idea could be key to a bipartisan health bill. Baucus raised it in a meeting with President Barack Obama, saying later that Obama showed interest. Baucus' Republican counterpart, Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, also said the concept had potential...

...Conrad's plan attempts to satisfy both sides. Profit-making insurance companies wouldn't run the show, but there also wouldn't be the federal government backing that Republicans fear would eliminate fair competition with private companies. The co-ops could get federal seed money, Conrad said, but that would be the end of federal involvement. The co-ops would negotiate directly with medical providers..."