Where's the Outrage?

Again on a Saturday there is an announcement of a deal. Sen. Ben Nelson seems to have the capitulation that he’s been asking for. Something smells rotten to me.

In Pres. Obama’s weekly address, he asks for a vote. unfortunately, he used Republican terminology in asking for a “up or down vote.” I’m not sure why he did this. I’m not sure that this is a good thing. Reminding Americans of Republicans trying to push through conservative (ultraconservative) judges is not what President Obama wants, I don’t think.

From DK:

1. Section 2711 – Annual limits are now banned after 2014, and before then, shall be set at a limit that doesn’t impair “essential” health care services. This is a huge improvement over Reid’s original draft of the bill, that only banned “unreasonable” annual limits (without defining such term). By the time the exchanges are set up, there won’t be any annual limits on qualified health care plans.
2. Section 2718 – Medical loss ratios are set at 85% in the large group market and 80% in the small business/individual market (down from 90% initially floated by Rockefeller), with consumers refunded the difference from any health insurance provider that doesn’t spend the required amount on medical coverage.
3. Section 2719 – Stronger appeals process provided for medical denials, with the Secretary of HHS authorized to review such processes.
4. Section 1303 – States may prohibit abortion coverage on plans offered through the exchange!
5. Section 1334 – The public option is scrapped and replaced with OPM-negotiated private, non-profit (read: Blue Cross/Blue Shield) “multi-state” plans, which are also subject to state regulation? OPM’s role is limited to negotiating and certifying plans that meet its qualifications with respect to: (1) medical-loss ratios, (2) profit margins, (3) premiums charged, and (4) all other terms and conditions.

From HuffPo:

A holdout no more, Sen. Ben Nelson agreed Saturday to provide the 60th and deciding vote for Senate passage of sweeping health care legislation, capping a year of struggle and a final burst of deadline bargaining.

Nelson, D-Neb., said he made his decision after winning fresh concessions to limit the availability of abortions in insurance sold in newly created exchanges, as well as tens of million in federal Medicaid funds for his home state.

“I know this is hard for some of my colleagues to accept and I appreciate their right to disagree. But I would not have voted for this bill without these provisions,” he said at a news conference in the Capitol. (more… )

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