Negotiations heating up, Closing in on a deal

The latest compromises and my analysis

- Elimination of pre-x- not mentioned in the article
- Payment reform- not mentioned
- Quality incentives- not mentioned
- Elimination of waste- not mentioned

= The AP and other members of the media continue their E News! style reporting and are failing to address key issues. They remain fixated on the fluff issues like the public plan option, immigrants and abortion. When most media outlets have the attention span of a fruit fly it doesn't help the American people to get informed.

Because of our sound-bite oriented news we now get three days of coverage of "You lie!" versus real reporting on what the various proposals will cover and reform.


Stay tuned as I'll dig for better details when the Baucus plan is released Wednesday.


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WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate health care negotiators said Monday they've narrowed their differences on a host of difficult issues with just a day or so left to seal an elusive bipartisan deal that could change the course of the contentious debate.

After months of closed-door negotiations, Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus said, "We're getting very close." But it remained unclear if the Montana Democrat could strike a bargain to close the deal.

Negotiators pared the cost of their 10-year coverage plan to under $880 billion, and also reported progress on several issues, including health insurance for the poor, restrictions on federal funding for abortions, a verification system to prevent illegal immigrants from getting benefits, and ways to encourage alternatives to malpractice lawsuits.

With or without Republican support, Baucus said he'll have a formal proposal on Wednesday to meet a deadline for moving ahead.

At the same time, he said the bipartisan talks could continue even as his Finance panel begins its formal bill-drafting session next week.

"It's not just tomorrow or the next day," said Baucus. "We're going to keep working."

The three Republicans - Mike Enzi of Wyoming, Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Olympia Snowe of Maine - are under intense pressure from leaders of their own party, some of whom have publicly dismissed Baucus' framework as a Democrat's plan. Baucus may not be able to get any of them to agree. But all three have invested much time and energy in the talks, and Baucus seems to have a chance of persuading at least Snowe.

Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., said the negotiators are close on a verification system to prevent illegal immigrants from getting government subsidies to buy health coverage - a big issue for Republicans.

Negotiators also said they've found ways to reduce the cost of a planned expansion of Medicaid to cover more people near the federal poverty line. The issue is critical to winning support from governors, since the states share in the cos.

On medical malpractice, Conrad said the negotiators agreed that the federal government should provide funding for states to experiment with a range of alternatives to lawsuits.

On abortion, the negotiators are trying to come up with language that would extend current restrictions that prohibit federal funding for the procedure, except in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother.

Baucus' plan would mandate all Americans to get health insurance, either through an employer, a government program, or on their own. New consumer protections would prohibit onerous insurance companies practices, such as denying coverage because of a prior health problem, or charging more to those who are sick.

Even if Baucus can't get Republican support, the plan already reflects some major GOP priorities. For example, Baucus opted not to include a government insurance plan to compete with private carriers.

"I am very optimistic that we are going to be able to pass a bill that will get us to 60 votes," said Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., a Finance member. "I didn't feel it a week-and-a-half ago, but I'm very optimistic now." Obama's speech last week "hit it head on," said Nelson.