This is one The Hill right now. At first I did not believe the story- Rep Ross is pushing Medicare for All. Ive called Rep Ross’ office and his staffer said Ross is offering Medicare to be the actual public option. It is one of the options he is presenting to leadership. So it is true. The Rep. thinks Medicare would be an easier sell and less of a mess than trying to create a public option. I did express my support to Rep Ross’ staff on this and have called CPC members on this idea.
Sen Gillibrand has long favored Medicare being the public option and it makes so much sense. Just let people who want to opt into the Medicare program or keep what they have. Im stunned Ross is pushing this. This could be a bombshell development if head of the Blue Dogs now wants Medicare for All.
You may want to call Ross and CPC members-
1-877-851-6437
The Hill-
Blue Dog Rep. Mike Ross, who made headlines by rejecting a compromise he'd negotiated on a public health insurance option, has suggested to Democratic leaders that the government-run Medicare program be opened to all Americans.
Ross (D-Ark.) has made the suggestion in meetings with House Democratic leaders and brought the idea to the closed-door House Democratic Caucus meeting Thursday.
"I – speaking only on behalf of myself – suggested one possible idea could be that instead of creating an entirely new government bureaucracy to administer a public option, Medicare could be offered as a choice to compete alongside private insurers for those Americans eligible to enter the national health insurance exchange, but at a reimbursement rate much greater than current Medicare rates," Ross said in a statement to The Hill.
The position is surprising because centrist Democrats such as Ross, chairman of the Blue Dogs' healthcare task force, have resisted a public insurance option with rates tied to Medicare. Centrist Democrats who can support a public plan generally prefer that the officials who run it negotiate rates with each provider.
http://thehill.com/...