House and Senate Democratic leaders are edging towards reaching a deal on a health care reform package to take to next week’s summit on health care.
There are reasons for a glimmer of optimism, writes Greg Sargent on his blog The Plum Line.
Sargent interviewed leadership aides who said that Senate Democratic leaders are warming to the idea of using reconciliation to fix their bill after the summit – suggesting a solution may be taking shape.
Tweaks to the “Cadillac” tax, a tax on insurance premiums for policies that offer more than the standard benefits, are being discussed. The compromise bill that Obama would take to the summit would include a national health insurance exchange and tougher penalties on employers who don’t insure employees, leadership aides say.
Let’s hope that Sargent’s predictions come true.
Health care reform is badly needed for millions of American consumers who don’t have coverage and to curb the rampant increases in costs for those who do.
