House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled the a newer version of the Affordable Health Care for America Act (HR 3962). The bill will cost $900 billion over 10 years and extends health coverage to 36 million Americans. That's 6-7 million more than the Senate Finance Committee’s version. The 1900-page bill includes a weakened public health insurance option but an historic expansion of Medicaid, the Washington Post reports.
The bill includes a version of the "public option" preferred by moderates and raises Medicaid eligibility levels to 150 percent of the federal poverty level for all adults, a steeper increase than in earlier drafts....The House legislation aims to provide health insurance of one form or another to 96 percent of all Americans at an expected cost just below $900 billion over 10 years, without increasing the federal budget deficit for at least 20 years, House Democrats said. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he will include a similar public provision in the Senate bill with an "opt out" clause for states that don't want to participate.
Four page summary here. The full text here. The top 14 provisions that take effect immediately here. The implementation timeline here.
The stronger, Medicare plus 5% provision was solidly backed by House progressives but lacked enough votes to pass. WaPo adds: "Rural Democrats strongly opposed that approach because of the potentially ruinous effect on doctors and hospitals in their districts, where Medicare rates are generally well below the national average."
While Medicare +5 would have been stronger, negotiated rates are not the worst thing. But many progressives are not enthused and question if too many concessions were made.
Via MSNBC, watch Pelosi introduce the bill, Howard Dean on Olbermann critique the bill and fabulous Rep. Alan Grayson on The Ed Show support the plan AFTER THE JUMP.
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