Baucus Plan Will Not Involve ‘Oppressive’ Rules, Letter to the Editor States
Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) on Tuesday in a letter to the editor of the Wall Street Journal, writes that the "Health Insurance Exchange envisioned in (his health care) reform plan will not involve oppressive regulation, but will simply preclude insurers from discriminating against those who are sick." According to Baucus -- who writes in response to a Nov. 20 Journal editorial -- his plan "will not 'relentlessly (grow)' government health spending." He adds, "In 10 years, the U.S. will spend no more than currently projected on health care but will spend more efficiently to enable quality coverage for all Americans." He writes that the "plan will build on, not undermine, the employer-based coverage system."According to Baucus, "Medicare has, in fact, had success in mitigating the climb of health costs." He notes that from 1970 to 2006, "Medicare spending per beneficiary rose 8.7% annually, compared with 9.7% for private insurance." Baucus writes that his plan would not "import Medicare's price rules into the public option," adding, "Rates would be determined by balancing the goals of increased competition and affordable access to quality health care" (Baucus, Wall Street Journal, 12/2). This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
