Friends, congressmen and senators, lend me thine ears...

August 3, 2009
During the congressional recess, let’s hope constructive and informative debate of health care reform legislation takes place.

Questions I would like to see debated:

Would a “public option” reimburse doctors, hospitals, pharmacies and other providers at rates comparable to current Medicare reimbursement or at rates comparable to private health insurance plans?

If the former is true, would providers be willing and able to be reimbursed at markedly reduced rates for folks enrolled in a public option? If not, will they have the option to refuse to care for persons insured under public option insurance?

Those pursuing proposing a public option should be prepared to come up with a ballpark estimate of what it would cost for, say a family of four earning up to $50,000 per year.

What will it cost the government to subsidize those at or below the poverty level
(Currently at $17,650 for a family of four)?

There are obviously many more questions our legislators must grapple with. But answering the above questions wouldn’t be a bad start.