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‘Public Option’ in Health Plan May Be Dropped

The White House, facing increasing skepticism over President Obama’s call for a public insurance plan to compete with the private sector, signaled Sunday that it was willing to compromise and would consider a proposal for a nonprofit health cooperative being developed in the Senate.

The “public option,” a new government insurance program akin to Medicare, has been a central component of Mr. Obama’s agenda for overhauling the health care system, but it has also emerged as a flashpoint for anger and opposition. Kathleen Sebelius, the health and human services secretary, said the public option was “not the essential element” for reform and raised the idea of the co-op during an interview on CNN.

Oh happy day. Yet another public statement from the Obama Administration that there was no issue that they were not willing to negotiate with themselves over. DHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius re-iterated once again that hey, what's the fuss over this public option stuff? This was notable for it being the 100th time a Administration official had gone out of it's way to mention that a public option wasn't essential. It also was notable for being the 100th time that afterward, some administration spokesperson came out later and said "no but seriously, we would prefer a public option." Well what better way to make sure one is included and to put the requisite pressure on guys like Max Baucus, than to consistently state that you couldn't care less if a public option is included.

And the President was out there on the trail, reminding everyone as well that hey although he totally swears that he wants this public option thingy, it's just one sliver of the health care thingy dingy and in the end isn't really important if it actually exists or not. "One sliver." Sure a public option would be the means with which health care would be delivered, near universal coverage achieved, prices lowered, and pressure put on the insurance companies to reform, but yeah, when you step back and look at it, all of that is just a tiny little sliver of health care reform.

At least Howard Dean was out and about this weekend, trying to tell people why a public option is necessary to actually achieve some level of cost control and reform. It's just a shame that he has no official position within the Obama Administration or within the Democratic power structure. And that's a good thing too, because who would want a doctor, former Governor who provided universal coverage for children, and Presidential candidate who largely jump started the talk about health care reform in 2004 with his candidacy, advocating on behalf of this administration or trying to get something worked out in an official capacity? Who needs him? I'm sure this whole "reverse psychology"/"we'll get what we want by slagging the thing we claim to support" plan will totally succeed.