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http://finance.senate.gov/healthreform2009/finalwhitepaper.pdf
The above link is to the White Paper of the Baucus plan for those interested in what is going to be proposed.
Baucus sets quick pace for reform in health care
Plan would require everyone to buy or have health insurance
By MIKE DENNISON
Gazette State Bureau
HELENA - U.S. Sen. Max Baucus said Tuesday that he hopes to have a health reform package on the Senate floor by early or mid-summer and that it will resemble a Massachusetts-style plan requiring everyone to buy or have health insurance.
Baucus, who called health care reform his "top priority," also said reform would be phased in over several years and that it won't add to the national deficit.
"My goal is to have a plan that covers it all," he said at a Washington news conference. "This is all (going to be) paid for. This will be phased in over time. Even after we enact the legislation, it may not take effect right away.
"Now it's time to move from first steps to giant steps. It's time to move forward on comprehensive health care reform." Baucus, a Montana Democrat, chairs the influential Senate Finance Committee and will be one of the lead senators on health care reform this year.
In a wide-ranging conversation with reporters from mostly national publications, Baucus said Congress has the commitment and support of President Barack Obama on health care reform, and that the public, business and governments want it to happen.
Baucus also repeated what's now become a familiar mantra for him: "Everything has to be on the table," but that he won't support a Medicare-for-all plan, which is tax-supported national health insurance for all.
"America is not ready for single-payer," Baucus said, calling Medicare-for-all by its more technical name. "We're not Europe; we're not Canada. We're Americans. I think this country does not want single-payer.
"We can make better use of our time trying to enact comprehensive (reform) somewhat similar to the Massachusetts plan."
The Massachusetts plan requires everyone to be covered by some sort of health insurance; those who don't have it through their employer or a public plan are required to buy it. If you can't afford the private health insurance you're required to buy, the state offers subsidies.
Critics of the Massachusetts plan have said it's turning out to be much more costly than expected and is not controlling costs.
Last November, Baucus released a "White Paper" outlining reforms he has in mind, resembling the Massachusetts plan. He said that outline was purposefully vague and that now it's time to "drill down a little bit" and start designing proposals.
Baucus told reporters several times that he didn't yet know the details or answers to some questions, such as what might be the "tipping point" on how much money will be available to pour into reform beyond the $630 billion set aside in the president's budget over 10 years.
However, he did say he might support reducing the tax break that individuals get on employer-provided health benefits, as a way of increasing tax revenue to support reforms. That break excludes the value of health benefits from taxed income.
"I think that tax provision should be on the table," Baucus said. "It's currently too aggressive. It skews the system. I do not favor eliminating it. But I do think it needs to be trimmed, limited."
Baucus also said one of the biggest challenges will be educating the public on the solutions and how they might work.
"People know it's a problem," he said. "People are paying too much; some families are going bankrupt. They know the problems, but they're just not quite sure what the solution is because it's so complicated. The problem is making people understand how these pieces fit together."
The above link is to the White Paper of the Baucus plan for those interested in what is going to be proposed.
Baucus sets quick pace for reform in health care
Plan would require everyone to buy or have health insurance
By MIKE DENNISON
Gazette State Bureau
HELENA - U.S. Sen. Max Baucus said Tuesday that he hopes to have a health reform package on the Senate floor by early or mid-summer and that it will resemble a Massachusetts-style plan requiring everyone to buy or have health insurance.
Baucus, who called health care reform his "top priority," also said reform would be phased in over several years and that it won't add to the national deficit.
"My goal is to have a plan that covers it all," he said at a Washington news conference. "This is all (going to be) paid for. This will be phased in over time. Even after we enact the legislation, it may not take effect right away.
"Now it's time to move from first steps to giant steps. It's time to move forward on comprehensive health care reform." Baucus, a Montana Democrat, chairs the influential Senate Finance Committee and will be one of the lead senators on health care reform this year.
In a wide-ranging conversation with reporters from mostly national publications, Baucus said Congress has the commitment and support of President Barack Obama on health care reform, and that the public, business and governments want it to happen.
Baucus also repeated what's now become a familiar mantra for him: "Everything has to be on the table," but that he won't support a Medicare-for-all plan, which is tax-supported national health insurance for all.
"America is not ready for single-payer," Baucus said, calling Medicare-for-all by its more technical name. "We're not Europe; we're not Canada. We're Americans. I think this country does not want single-payer.
"We can make better use of our time trying to enact comprehensive (reform) somewhat similar to the Massachusetts plan."
The Massachusetts plan requires everyone to be covered by some sort of health insurance; those who don't have it through their employer or a public plan are required to buy it. If you can't afford the private health insurance you're required to buy, the state offers subsidies.
Critics of the Massachusetts plan have said it's turning out to be much more costly than expected and is not controlling costs.
Last November, Baucus released a "White Paper" outlining reforms he has in mind, resembling the Massachusetts plan. He said that outline was purposefully vague and that now it's time to "drill down a little bit" and start designing proposals.
Baucus told reporters several times that he didn't yet know the details or answers to some questions, such as what might be the "tipping point" on how much money will be available to pour into reform beyond the $630 billion set aside in the president's budget over 10 years.
However, he did say he might support reducing the tax break that individuals get on employer-provided health benefits, as a way of increasing tax revenue to support reforms. That break excludes the value of health benefits from taxed income.
"I think that tax provision should be on the table," Baucus said. "It's currently too aggressive. It skews the system. I do not favor eliminating it. But I do think it needs to be trimmed, limited."
Baucus also said one of the biggest challenges will be educating the public on the solutions and how they might work.
"People know it's a problem," he said. "People are paying too much; some families are going bankrupt. They know the problems, but they're just not quite sure what the solution is because it's so complicated. The problem is making people understand how these pieces fit together."
