1. Although the proposal I released last week included a comprehensive set of initiatives to combat fraud, waste, and abuse, Senator Coburn had an interesting suggestion that we engage medical professionals to conduct random undercover investigations of health care providers that receive reimbursements from Medicare, Medicaid, and other Federal programs.

2. My proposal also included a provision from the Senate health reform bill that authorizes funding to states for demonstrations of alternatives to resolving medical malpractice disputes, including health courts. Last Thursday, we discussed the provision in the bills cosponsored by Senators Coburn and Burr and Representatives Ryan and Nunes (S. 1099) that provides a similar program of grants to states for demonstration projects. Senator Enzi offered a similar proposal in a health insurance reform bill he sponsored in the last Congress. As we discussed, my Administration is already moving forward in funding demonstration projects through the Department of Health and Human Services, and Secretary Sebelius will be awarding $23 million for these grants in the near future. However, in order to advance our shared interest in incentivizing states to explore what works in this arena, I am open to including an appropriation of $50 million in my proposal for additional grants. Currently there is only an authorization, which does not guarantee that the grants will be funded.

3. At the meeting, Senator Grassley raised a concern, shared by many Democrats, that
Medicaid reimbursements to doctors are inadequate in many states, and that if Medicaid
is expanded to cover more people, we should consider increasing doctor reimbursement. I'm open to exploring ways to address this issue in a fiscally responsible manner.

4. Senator Barrasso raised a suggestion that we expand Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). I know many Republicans believe that HSAs, when used in conjunction with high-
deductible health plans, are a good vehicle to encourage more cost-consciousness in consumers' use of health care services. I believe that high-deductible health plans could be offered in the exchange under my proposal, and I'm open to including language to ensure that is clear. This could help to encourage more people to take advantage of HSAs.

How many Repub votes does this get?

"We'll see"--said the Zen Master..

The answer, MMike, is Zeroteen.

GOPhers don't really want healthcare reform. They just don't want to be berated for opposing it. Therefore they made a bunch of proposals they thought the POTUS wouldn't sign off on. Now that it appears that he is willing to, these GOPhers must vote for the bill or once again be exposed for the frauds they are. Personally, when it comes to good faith negotiation, I think most GOPhers are comparable to a bucket of shit.

So Obama likes 4 of the "no" ideas the GOP has put forth. That is like way above 100%.

"Obama Likes Four GOP Ideas For Health Care"

Well, he's a broadminded kinda guy.
Won't win him any GOPer votes.
They're so far out of it these days they'd probably vote against their own proposal...if they had a proposal to vote against. But that's hard werk, so they wait for the Dems to give them something that'll allow them to say, "No!"

They're so far out of it these days they'd probably vote against their own proposal.

they did. it was the healthcare bill. If folks like you weren't told by the media that the dems actually authored that bill, you would have sworn that the repubs had written it.....and yep, they voted against it.

This is interesting.

Is Obama paying lip-service, or will he exert pressure to incorporate the GOP ideas he's touting here?

If it's the latter, he will have painted the GOP into a bit of a corner.

If it's the former - these ideas are touted but not incorporated in any meaningful way - then he will have shown arrogant disdain for the intelligence and perceptiveness of the people of this nation.

If it's the latter, he will have painted the GOP into a bit of a corner.
#10 | Posted by JeffJ
================
JJ...might pick up a few blue dogs...progressives will come along also.

doesnt matter...the bill still gives obama and govt control over things the govt has no business in.
such as forcing me to buy insurance if I didnt want to...

these 4 not enough..

so mister pres...pour a heneiken, mix a high ball or two..smoke a half a pack or so and get back to us.

After reading Obama's proposals, he has one HUGE problem - this kinda goes back to square-one; which would be a good thing for all of us.

Having said that, while I still distrust the Dems on this, if these ideas are incorporated in a meaningful fashion I believe enough of a degree of: comprimise, bi-partisanship and public support can be reached that will result in passage of an OK piece of legislation.

If it pans out this way it is a HUGE victory for Obama. His biggest problem from the start has been the radical-aspect of his own party. If he can truly broker comprimise in the manner in which he sold himself, he will have made some pretty big strides.

Time will tell.

such as forcing me to buy insurance if I didnt want to...

#12 | Posted by afkabl2

Nobody is going to take away the diaper changes that you already get for free, you senile old bastard.

okay sure...sounds funny and all...but trust me..
real soon the baby boomers are gonna hit medicare and social security and certain aisles at the pharmacy

contact your broker and buy all of the 'DEPENDS 'stock you can....

Oh boy! This is excellent. Finally something I can wipe my ass with.

Something tells me Obama doesn't even know who perpetrates most of the medicare fraud. Isn't it non-existant service providers? How are you going to walk in on them and attempt a sting operation?

Oh boy! This is excellent. Finally something I can wipe my ass with.

#16 | Posted by mysterytoy at 2010-03-02 06:27 PM | Reply | Flag: dirty hands.

"GOPhers don't really want healthcare reform."

#6 | Posted by moder8

What are you trying to accomplish by calling people names, obviously not intellectual debate. Does it make you feel smart or powerful to cut and paste talking points or using outdated slang to depict a group of people you disagree with? How pathetic. Life is FULL of compromises, get use to it. Anyone here who is married/in a relationship knows this all too well. A relationship is akin to politics on so many levels.
Also, business is also politics. You have to/need to compromise to get anything done.
Those of you who do not think so know nothing about either relationships or business.

Why even worry about calling them GOP ideas? The GOP wants nothing to do with any bill that President Obama supports, and they are determined not to vote for it.

Man up and ram your bill through, don't try to pander to the un-panderable (that should be a word, damnit).

You already know that you have lost the GOP votes, why are you going to risk losing your most liberal votes because of your failed attempts at placating?

#20 | Posted by andyuhenet

Once again, sorry.

What are you trying to accomplish by calling people names, obviously not intellectual debate. Does it make you feel smart or powerful to cut and paste talking points or using outdated slang to depict a group of people you disagree with? How pathetic. Life is FULL of compromises, get use to it. Anyone here who is married/in a relationship knows this all too well. A relationship is akin to politics on so many levels.
Also, business is also politics. You have to/need to compromise to get anything done.
Those of you who do not think so know nothing about either relationships or business.

I didn't call anyone names, unless you count unpanderable as a bad name, which is a pretty weak insult.

The GOP leadership is not interested in health reform if it can help President Obama out. The GOP is certainly looking for health reform, but only reform they can take credit for.

Those of you who do not think so know nothing about either relationships or business.

The nuclear option has been used before, and needs to be used by smart politicians when they win an election (2008) that is a mandate. Specifically mentioned throughout the election year was health reform, and for the Dems to try to compromise (not get a bill passed) would be terribly depressing.

The Dems will lose more seats if nothing gets passed, which is fucking sweet, but strategically the nuclear option is their best move at this point.

It's interesting to read the posts of AFKBL2 and JEFFJ on this. One has his mind totally closed and won't even consider the possibility that good could come out of health care reform while the other is at least willing to consider the idea. To me Jeff's willingness to consider the possibility that this bill might be beneficial to the country indicates the liklihood that other reasonable Republicans would also. I don't expect them to just approve of Democratic initiatives but it would be good for the country if the more reasonable among them could at least just consider those things with an open mind and not just go along with the pundits who are paid partisans.

"but strategically the nuclear option is their best move at this point."

And strategically the Republicans refer to it as the "nuclear option" when they know that term actually refers to a different process.

health savings accounts.... What a joke,I have that but can't afford to put any savings in because I don't have any savings..... Not seen a raise in 5 years..........

point is still valid..
sort of like all of the people calling the bunning matter a filabuster..

point is...obama is a liar and I dont trust him because of WHAT HE sAID I SHOULD do during the campaign and that was to judge him by the people he surrounds himslef with

rev wright
bill ayers
valerie jarret
rhom emanual
the jones communist
andy stern

must I go on?

and lets go with an oldy but goody

if all of his health care TAKEOVER was so fricking good..
then why did they have to BUY votes from landreau, nelsons, dodds, and florida?

and of course why did they have to pay off THE UNIONS who ..IF they live in florida or nebrasks will almost MAKE money on this shit??

must I go on?

Posted by afkabl2

Could we stop you?

sure...just ask nice...

This health care crap reminds me of an old case... where the woman asks her rapist to wear a condom and then he claims she consented... [dc area? early 90's I think... ended in a mistrial]...

That is what is happening here. The repubs have lots of disagreements with the bill as it is written and spend hours pointing out things that they don't like. Obama picks 4 items that will not significantly alter the bill or prevent him and his ilk from destroying our health care system... Obama thinks that slapping a comdom on this will prevent the American people from realizing they are getting raped.

Obama's a centrist who is actually willing to not only listen to but to also incorporate into bills responsible suggestions in re the Health Care Insurance Reform Debate?

Wonder how that'll play...

"But, but, but ...Sekret, Muslin Soshulizm!!!11!"

~The Right.

Shoulda guessed.

Spud agrees that Obama's bipartisanship here will prolly not swing a lot of GOP No voters but that the 10 blue dogs who voted against it in the house might reconsider.

All in all a good move, both politically and in terms of crafting a better bill.

Be Well.

absolute lunacy.

They took a horrible bill, crafted almost entirely by dems, and then at the 11th hour, tacked on a few repub measures, and think its gonna make anyone on the right happy.

They might have put lipstick on a pig, but its still a pig.

Unfortunately for any dems in office, the people have seen that this is a pig... and they are not happy. One dem on TV earlier said his voters only had 17% approval for this bill. You can put almost anybill from scrapping the constitution to impeaching the pres up for a vote and get higher numbers than that.