Progessive congressmembers defend public health care option

More than 60 members of congress have taken a stand on health care reform.  In the House, members of the Progressive Caucus recently signed a letter where they stated they would only support health care reform plans that include a public option.  The Progressive Caucus says this does not include a cooperative system which is being promoted by members of the Senate Finance Committee. Minnesota Representative Keith Ellison co-chairs the Progressive Caucus.  He expressed his opposition to cooperatives today.

“A public option and a coop are very very different things. You know a coop is not for profit health care, but it does not have the benefits of a public option.”

Ellison said cooperatives would be too weak to compete against private health care providers and wouldn´t bring costs down. His declarations came during the launch of a report on health care reform by the Institute for America´s Future. The report was written by long time health care specialist Jacob Hacker, who supports a public option.

“I believe the plan should build on medicare´s provider network, signing up medicare providers automatically but allowing them to opt out if they wish. It should have the authority to reduce medical inflation through innovation through the financing of delivery of care. And finally the public plan and medicare should be given authority to bargain directly to lower drug prices for their enrollees.”

Representative Ellison says he is not discouraged by recent opposition to a public option in town hall meetings.  He claims most Americans will benefit from a public option, adding that the Progressive Caucus will continue to promote this policy amongst other members of Congress.