The Spotlight Shifts to Baucus

With The 090909 Speech now a part of history, the spotlight shifts to Senator Max Baucus (D-Montana), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, the Group of Six centrist Democrats and Republicans as they hammer out the Senate’s healthcare legislation.  There was considerable positioning among the Senators prior to the speech with Baucus announcing he may move forward without the support of Republicans and Grassley noting he would not be the sole Republican to support healthcare reform.  Baucus is seen as one of the most influential players on healthcare reform, and his views serve as a political barometer on where the debate is heading.

Unlike the Obama proposal, the Baucus bill will likely not include a proposal for a government-run public insurance plan.  Baucus does not believe that the idea could pass the Senate, where Republicans have argued it represents a government takeover of health insurance.  The Finance Committee Senators prefer other, more measured reform initiatives.

Additionally, Baucus’ proposal is purported to be less expensive than the Obama plan.  Calling for non-profit cooperatives to compete with insurance companies, it does include a number of features outlined by Obama such as a new tax on insurance companies, which would raise about $6 billion a year, programs to improve the quality of care, increases in prevention and wellness program coverage, elimination of pre-existing conditions coverage exclusions, and limits out-of-pocket expenses.

We will be providing a detailed analysis of the Baucus plan next Monday.  By then, The 090909 Speech will have moved into the background and the serious backroom discussions will have begun.  Exactly where we are headed is still anyone’s guess.  As I noted, the ball moved up field, but there was no touchdown.  More on this topic next week…

The views and opinions expressed herein are my own and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of Dell Services or its affiliates.