Dean: Reforms Will Be Added To Health Care Reform

MIAMI -- The debate in the House over whether to repeal health care reform has set up a fairly binary discussion with respect to the law. On one side are Republicans who want it overturned, on the other are Democrats trying to keep the president's signature domestic achievement as is.

In reality, the future of the Affordable Care Act won't lie in either absolute. Rather than disappearing from books entirely, or remaining simply in place, the far more substantive (and enduring) health care reform battle in the next two years will be fought over how and where to amend the legislation.

Already, votes have been taken to revamp the legislation by removing the 1099 mandate, which requires businesses to file an IRS form for any transaction greater than $600. Sens. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), meanwhile, have introduced an amendment that would allow states to opt-out of the law (provided they meet minimal standards for coverage) more quickly.

Both of these reforms are geared toward mitigating the legislation's reach. And in the future, there seem destined to be major showdowns over funding that could produce similar, scaling-back changes to the law.

But there will also be efforts to build on Obamacare led, primarily, by Democrats disappointed with its earlier reach.

"I do believe it is going to be the impetus for reform," former Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean said at a recent Christian Science Monitor breakfast. "I don't believe the health care bill is reform, but I do think it is going to cause reform, because it is causing a significant amount of debate about reform in some really fundamental ways in Massachusetts. Massachusetts is seriously considering getting rid of fee for service medicine. Fee for service medicine is the number one driver of health care cost inflation in this country."

Dean is not, of course, a lawmaker. So his input as to what kind of reforms should be added to the law constitutes little more than a philosophical wish list. (He ultimately predicted that the development of health care exchanges would compel the small business community to "abandon the health care market," a development he called positive). That said, his belief that Obamacare is something to build on -- not the final say -- is shared by others in Congress.

"All of us who supported health care are willing to work with them to improve it," Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) told The Huffington Post. "What Governor Dean describes is the right way to proceed. That may mean modifying some things, scuttling others and adding. It shouldn't be erasing everything we have altogether."

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article said that Sen. Jeff Merkley had teamed up with Sen. Scott Brown on the state opt-out provision. It is the other Oregon Democrat, Ron Wyden, who is partnering with Brown.

Comments

[Edward T]

06:19 PM on 01/10/2011

Obamacare is UNCONSTITUTIONAL. Hold Congress Accountable: Take the Pledge or Walk the Plank! therepealpledge(dot)com

[cgin]

08:05 PM on 01/08/2011

Although I like Dean for his professed philosophy of life, I'm afraid he's becoming vacillator in chief. I believe Dean, as most current Dems, has as of late acquired a philosophy of convenience. That is, if things get too hard, it's perfectly acceptable in his world to compromise your values regardless of consequence. In my perspective, a very sad state of affairs for progressive policies, especially in this polemic environment where the other side is hell bent on reversing all of the new deal’s social accomplishments.

[GaiasChild]

04:12 PM on 01/08/2011

well no worries, wyden and merkley share some values and intentions for improved health care, merkley more tending for public option and wyden having crafted wise solutions as well . . . maybe more acceptable to those who cannot imagine public option. am appreciating howard dean's commentary and insights all along and wish he had better acceptance from the administration. i guess the chicago thing isn't all that open.

[RobtBrock]

10:51 AM on 01/08/2011

Single Payer. 'Nuff said.

[Anne Johnson]

12:14 PM on 01/08/2011

x2

[bekahlyons]

01:20 PM on 01/08/2011

HOPE is alive!!!!! for the cult of progressives!!!!

Evan Thomas tells the truth!Watch the video.

On Friday’s “Inside Washington,” Newsweek columnist Evan Thomas, once an editor at the magazine with a long track record of having liberal positions (even once having likened President Barack Obama to a deity),
Health care though – I got to say, is one place where I think where Republicans are right.”
Back in November 2009, Thomas admitted the health care reform bill had flaws, but still voiced his support for it. Now he has proclaimed it a failure.
“The health care bill is a disaster,” Thomas continued. “We’re sort of slowly learning – it’s not working. It’s interesting – they’re implementing it and it’s not working out at all as people anticipated. There’s all sorts of wildly wrong projections.

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2011/01/08/newsweeks-evan-thomas-the-health-care-bill-is-a-disaster/#ixzz1AT9f3wf1

[Querent]

07:27 PM on 01/08/2011

Progressivism is a movement. Conservatism is a cult.

[Paulo1]

09:46 AM on 01/08/2011

"Dean is not, of course, a lawmaker. "

easily corrected. Run Howard RUN ! I will work my tail off for you in the Primaries !

[SaddamIt]

11:12 AM on 01/08/2011

Agreed. Dean strikes again. “Dean is not, of course, a lawmaker” and his statements “constitutes little more than a philosophical wish list.” Has the writer included this qualifier for Gingrich, Huckabee, Palenty, Romney, Palin, etc… in previous articles? I imagine and believe he has, but I don’t I simply don’t recall seeing a qualifier like this before.

[1donewrong]

07:52 PM on 01/08/2011

we need a dog catcher in my area he could fix the bill

[tehixe]

02:12 AM on 01/08/2011

I predict that, although the reforms will help people with preexisting conditions and such, insurance companies will continue to charge unreasonable prices and deny claims in bad faith. At this point, Congress will just throw up its hands and allow everyone to buy into Medicare.

[1donewrong]

07:53 PM on 01/08/2011

Insurance companies try trial lawyers

[tehixe]

09:50 PM on 01/08/2011

They do? In what way do they try them? If you want yourself to make sense you might pay attention to punctuation. Also, if you think health insurance costs are in any way related to medical malpractice suits, you might want to educate yourself. Insurance rates go up and down with no correlation whatsoever to malpractice suits. They account for only a few percent of the cost of health insurance.

[jlm11579]

12:37 AM on 01/08/2011

Excuse me, but why the use of the phrase "ObamaCare"?

Isn't that derogatory word exclusive to Fox News?

[njcole]

01:22 AM on 01/08/2011

So was the "Big Bang," which was a derogatory phrase created by a skeptic. Who cares? I just hope we someday get real reform, call it whatever.

[blingbling65943]

12:30 PM on 01/08/2011

Call it what ever you want, this cancer survivor is glad to give credit to Obama for getting me Health insurance.

[le marc]

02:04 PM on 01/08/2011

As a survivor too, I also know fear of receiving another positive biopsy w/o insurance. My heart goes out to all who suffer at the alter of the medical profit machine.

[Cleverboots]

11:48 PM on 01/07/2011

I would like to know what changes Dean would make in the new law. As a Doctor he knows more about what's needed than most of the people in Congress.

[njcole]

01:26 AM on 01/08/2011

Which is why the fact that he was excluded from the process by Obama was extraordinary, to say nothing about the fact that he ALSO was a great success as the head of the DNC. Progressives not allowed, I guess.

[Cleverboots]

12:05 PM on 01/08/2011

Makes you wonder,doesn't it? I really would rather vote for Dean in 2012. Great post! F&F

[1donewrong]

07:55 PM on 01/08/2011

he wanted to make sure his trial lawyer friends faced no repercussions since that is the Dem's largest contributors

[Cleverboots]

10:03 PM on 01/08/2011

Couldn't be worse than Obama's Wall Street/Chicago friends who are also big contributors.

[Sassy BeBe]

10:28 PM on 01/07/2011

How much are you willing to pay per month for single payer plan? And what level of coverage and services do you expect to get for your money?

[blingbling65943]

12:31 PM on 01/08/2011

8% of my income.

Or how much they pay in France for the Best healthcare system in the World

[sursum korda]

03:23 PM on 01/08/2011

That ranking was done by the WHO and since 2000 no longer make such comparisons, the task for a UN body was just too complicated for when Belize was rated with a better health care system than Australia or the US is listed in 37th place then one knows there is political interference involved. The OECD takes into account more than number of physicians or reliance on UN stated aims and objects thus a truer benchmark and they rate the following as the top 5: Japan, Sweden, Norway, Canada and Australia. I can tell you that in my Province there are no premiums until you earn $20,000.00 a year then it is $5.00 a month rising in a sliding scale to $60.00 monthly at a income level of $200,000.00 per year, plus there is a VAT of 5% across the country that in part contributes to the overall costs of the systems. But the VAT also sustains other non-health programmes as well and of course everybody is in, no exceptions. Our system does not cover dental, drugs or disability for that we buy private insurance from the same people as you, Blue Cross etc etc.,save when you hit 65 then you are covered for the lot... and you still pay the health premium based on income.

[1donewrong]

07:57 PM on 01/08/2011

too bad you don't pay at least 8% of your income in taxes

[swj]

09:54 PM on 01/07/2011

Americans are too stupid for healthcare.They do'nt deserve it . Let's get rid of it all tougether,
Then people can die younger,proud and stupid.It also would solve Social Security.
Afted all the number one priority of our elected officials is to keep the super rich ,rich.

[sue denim]

09:38 PM on 01/07/2011

I sincerely hope they repeal the 1099 mandate.

[WaveRhydr]

09:26 PM on 01/07/2011

Im sure those millions the repubs want to strip of their health care wont mind. Oh gosh no. They would NEVER, EVER start thinking on who cost them that, and feel ill towards them.

[GrantS]

09:25 PM on 01/07/2011

Dean called it Obamacare? Doubtful that he would use that perjorative.

The GOP plan to eliminate health care is totally logical. The plan will never work but it will allow the GOP to continue to demonize Democrats the entire time. Adding to that is their useless plan to investigat­­­e Democratic practices over the last two years. It's just more opportunit­­­y to demonize the Dems. They will do this for two years.

I'm sure they will attempt to impeach Obama (it's already starting). It doesn't matter how innocent he is - the whole point is the negative focus. It is one way to play to the base and not have to actually govern.

It is all a sham, all lies and deceit, all meant for show and to cater to big insurance. They have no shame

[1donewrong]

07:58 PM on 01/08/2011

obama care won't work either otherwise why would barak be grating so many waivers

[Iamobserver]

09:23 PM on 01/07/2011

The only way HC reform will be accepted is if the gov does not control it and free choice is available to the consumer.

[WaveRhydr]

09:25 PM on 01/07/2011

Oh, nonsense!

[njcole]

01:32 AM on 01/08/2011

Like the V.A.?

[1donewrong]

08:00 PM on 01/08/2011

VA is like heathcare in Haiti

[TREKMIND]

09:21 PM on 01/07/2011

(Massachusetts is seriously considering getting rid of fee for service medicine.) This is a great Idea that can change health care for the better. I think that states like Massachusetts & California will find unique ways of taking advantage of the new reforms.