WASHINGTON—The public option for health care is out, at least for now. The Senate Finance Committee Tuesday voted down two amendments to the health care insurance reform bill that would have created a government-run option for uninsured Americans and small businesses.
During Tuesday’s debate, Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W. Va., proposed a public option that would reimburse doctors at Medicare rates for a two-year period. The government would negotiate new rates after that. Rockefeller emphasized that the choice to take part in the program is up to individuals.“This will be optional, nobody has to do this,” he said.
Republicans on the committee staunchly opposed the public option. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said it would be detrimental to the health care system, “The government is not a fair competitor, it’s a predator.”
Rockefeller’s amendment was defeated in a 15-8 vote with four Democrats joining the Republicans to vote no.
The second “public option” proposal taken up by the committee came from Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., who argued that a public option will drive down costs and ultimately save the government money. “There’s very little competition in the marketplace, we all know the American way is to bring more competition, he said.” His plan unlike Rockefeller’s included rate negotiations among doctors, hospitals and health providers.
Schumer’s amendment was voted down by a 13-10 vote.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., voted against both amendments saying their inclusion would jeopardize getting the 60 votes needed to pass health care reform legislation on the Senate floor.