2nd Public Option Senate Finance Amendment Dead

The second shot at a public health insurance option died in the Senate Finance Committee. It was offered by Senate Chuck Schumer (D-NY):

Schumer Amendment #C1 to Title I, Subtitle E-

Short Title: Level Playing Field Public Option

Description of Amendment:

Strike Title I, Subtitle E, Health Care Cooperatives and replace with a national ―level playing field‖ public health insurance option with negotiated reimbursement rates to enhance competition for consumers within the Exchange.

The new national level playing field public option must adhere to the same rules (actuarial reporting, community rating and guaranteed issue) as all other plans in the Exchange and must be self-sustaining with premiums and copayments covering claims. Like private plans, the ―level playing field‖ public option would also be required to establish a reserve fund. Aside from covering some initial start-up costs, general revenues or annual appropriations may not support the ongoing operation of the plan.

The government must not use existing programs like Medicare as a stick to compel providers to participate in the public option. Instead, doctors and hospitals should be able to voluntarily opt-in to participate in the public option.

Offset:

Increase annual fee on for-profit health insurance providers by amount necessary to offset the increase in spending.

Republicans
CHUCK GRASSLEY -no
ORRIN G. HATCH -no
OLYMPIA J. SNOWE -no
JON KYL -no
JIM BUNNING -no
MIKE CRAPO -no
PAT ROBERTS -no
JOHN ENSIGN -no
MIKE ENZI -no
JOHN CORNYN -no

Democrats
MAX BAUCUS -no
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER -yes
KENT CONRAD -no
JEFF BINGAMAN -yes
JOHN F. KERRY -yes
BLANCHE L. LINCOLN -no
RON WYDEN -yes
CHARLES E. SCHUMER -yes
DEBBIE STABENOW -yes
MARIA CANTWELL -yes
BILL NELSON -yes
ROBERT MENENDEZ -yes
THOMAS CARPER -yes


Not Agreed to (13-10)