White House Backs Away From VA Proposal...

[babylonsister]

Good decision. They had to.


http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_03/017350.php

WHITE HOUSE BACKS AWAY FROM VA PROPOSAL.... Following up on an item from last week, the Obama administration was reportedly weighing a change in how military veterans' healthcare would be paid for. Under existing policy, private insurance companies help pay for veterans' care that is not service related. Administration officials considered the possibility of charging insurance companies for service-related injuries, too, at a savings to the VA of a half-billion dollars annually.

To put it mildly, the idea, which the White House never fully embraced, was not well received. Democratic lawmakers balked at the very suggestion. Veterans' groups issued strong denunciations. Even Jon Stewart expressed outrage at the mere possibility.

Today, the administration reportedly abandoned the idea altogether.

The White House on Wednesday backed off a controversial plan that would have dramatically altered the way the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) handles insurance claims, after veterans groups staged an all-out fight against such a proposal.

President Obama will not pursue a proposal that would have allowed the VA to charge private insurance companies for the treatment of veterans with service- and war-related injuries. The proposal raised the ire of prominent Democrats on the House and Senate Veterans Affairs panels. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was the first to publicly announce Wednesday afternoon that the president won't pursue such proposal.

The announcement came shortly after the second White House meeting between presidential aides and prominent veterans' organization leaders.

At yesterday's White House press briefing, Robert Gibbs kept emphasizing Obama's 11% increase in discretionary spending in the VA budget, which invariably led to "yes, but" questions regarding the possible shift in insurance.

It appears Obama's team has resolved the problem. Good move.

[a kennedy]

1. They better back away from this.....

it's just wrong. period. :mad:

[Mike Daniels]

8. A few posters here were accusing the Veterans Groups of all being right wing shills

and the posters were trying to spin the veterans' concerns as 100% BS.

Doesn't sound like it was BS if the administration is now backing away from the idea.

[ProSense]

17. No they were not. A lot of people said the American Legion were RW shills

Their account of events didn't jive with reality. From one Vet group:

From someone who was there: It appeared that OMB was somewhat apologetic about the "insurance" proposal. It appears this is a "learning curve" problem... new staffers, and all. And, President Obama fully understood the VSOs' concerns. Also, it is thought that when the budget finally comes out, the "insurance" proposal won't be in it.

More and more it appears that the "new kids in town" are moving forward with proposals like this one without fully comprehending the impact. I was told: "They'll learn."

However, the American Legion doesn't agree with this assessment (see below).

<...>

The American Legion's press release about the "insurance" proposal is here...

Excerpt:

"It became apparent during our discussion today that the President intends to move forward with this unreasonable plan," said Commander David K. Rehbein of The American Legion. "He says he is looking to generate $540-million by this method, but refused to hear arguments about the moral and government-avowed obligations that would be compromised by it."

That account fully corresponds with this from the OP:

To put it mildly, the idea, which the White House never fully embraced, was not well received.

The American Legion are RW shills.

[countingbluecars]

2. Good to hear. n/t

[WeDidIt]

3. I think this is a gotcha setup. . .

The GOP was OUTRAGED over this.

Now they're going to have a hard time complaining about universal healthcare.

[JuniperLea]

9. That was my thought too...

Obama has been known to show a sly side;)

He's using his power for good, so no complaints here!

[high density]

21. I agree

It came out of nowhere.

[bluestateguy]

4. I knew they would make the right decision

The only mistake they made was publicly trial balooning this nutjob idea.

Though, I must say, all those conservative veterans who voted for McCain (and he took 54% of the veteran vote) sure seem to like that government run health care now.

[FVZA_Colonel]

5. I'm glad to see some pressure worked.

At least with this Administration, in certain situations, they will respond.

[babylonsister]

7. It was never a done deal, but there sure was a lot of speculating

going on.

[FVZA_Colonel]

20. Well, I'm glad speculation is as far as it got.

It is good see we have people responsive to the popular will and sound policy.

[FrenchieCat]

6. The controversy that this propopal has generated will become useful in the

upcoming arguments that will be had in reference to a public government option in dealing with the Health care reform issue.

When those who would fight offering a public option to the general public at large start their argument, the response can simply be, if it is good enough for our military, than it is good enough for Americans who do not want to opt into a private option.

There is a possibility that this is why this was floated around (considered),
and reponses were gotten on record, including those in the media.

If so, this was a masterful move in providing an analogy for use in debates.

If not, then it only proves that this White House, unlike the last one
actually listens like it said it would.

[JuniperLea]

10. Yep...

Obama is five steps ahead. I think this was all a calculated approach.

[Cha]

13. Thanks for that

analysis, FC.

[napi21]

11. There has been a problem between emp. sponsored HC & VA for a long time!

I worked with a lady who had injured her hip while in bootcamp back in the 70's. Every time show went to the Dr. for ANYTHING, there was a haggle between our emp. sponsored HC co. and the VA. I retired from that co. in 1999 and I know she was still fighting this on every issue!

I honestly don't know what the right answer is, but it's a problem.

[Cha]

12. Wonderful..I couldn't believe

it would go anywhere when I heard about it on Jon's last night.

[jenmito]

14. That's great if true. MSNBC just reported that the veterans didn't look too happy

coming from their meeting with Emanuel today, but they didn't comment which was a good sign meaning they weren't disappointed enough to speak out. I hope the "didn't look too happy" was just spin.

[babylonsister]

27. WaPo confirms:

Obama Drops Controversial Third-Party Billing Proposal for Veterans

Updated 6:57 p.m.
By Philip Rucker


President Obama today abandoned a proposal to bill veterans' private insurance companies for treatment of combat-related injuries after the measure prompted an outcry from veterans service organizations and members of Congress.

The proposal would have authorized the Department of Veterans Affairs to charge private companies for treating injuries and other medical conditions related to military service, such as amputations, post-traumatic stress disorder and other battle wounds. The measure was intended to save the VA about $530 million a year, but the administration's pursuit of third-party billing sparked resistance from leaders of powerful veterans groups, who met earlier this week with Obama.

In a statement released this afternoon, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the president has "instructed that its consideration be dropped."

"In considering the third party billing issue, the administration was seeking to maximize the resources available for veterans," Gibbs said. "However, the president listened to concerns raised by the {veterans service organizations} that this might, under certain circumstances, affect veterans and their families' ability to access health care."

Veterans groups said the policy would jeopardize the insurance benefits of veterans and their families and would be an abrogation of the government's responsibility to care for those wounded in war.

more...

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/03/18/obama_drops_controversial_thir.html?wprss=44

[jenmito]

30. Thanks! And Rachel Maddow reported this, too.

I'm VERY glad they did this. :hi:

[Thrill]

15. They never said they were going to do it.

They just said it was a proposal on the table.

[WeDidIt]

16. Yep, they talked to religious fundies yesterday

doesn't mean they'll adopt those fundie whackjob proposals.

I think they've now got a lot of righwingers on the record as to why privatizing health care is wrong.

:evilgrin:

[FrenchieCat]

19. I'm suspecting that this is how Obama works..... in building concensus,

and blunting adversaries.
He allows for a system of deliberation that is transparent
enough that many folks are able to have their say.

He already knows what he wants to do, because hell, he ran on it....
but believes that if he were just to put it out there,
it would get shot up full of holes by the naysayers, the critics and the media;
those who reflexively opposes his policy views due to their own dogma.

Putting stuff on the table and allowing for discussion,
provides necessary policy debate before the fact, rather than afterwards.

I believe on this one, it would be odd that Barack Obama not to have known in advance
the type of protests he would get from the Armed Forces in a consideration that went
directly against anything that he has ever discussed as a good idea for health care.

However, he may have determined that this same idea was being pushed in reference to the
already started general population Health Care debate (considering that they have already started
work on this- see Baucus who he obviously just Pwned!) was so ridiculous,
that putting it out there as a way to deal with Military health care,
showed this option for what it truly was; ridiculous,
and to a great degree stymies Baucus's great brain fart.

[babylonsister]

23. As has been said often,

President Obama is several steps ahead of most everyone else, it seems.

Good analysis. :thumbsup:

[ProSense]

18. Excellent

Snatch another talking point from the wingnuts.

[backscatter712]

22. GOOD!

We sent these guys to battlefields, and they fought and received injuries in their duties.

It is our duty to make sure they're cared for. Yes, on the taxpayer dollar. We owe them that.

[mvd]

24. K&R

:kick:

[damntexdem]

25. Good -- they listened.

Now, there are a few other little things ...

[TheBigotBasher]

26. It is a pity it was dropped

It is also indicative of the lies that the Insurance lobby will use against UHC. This proposal was to make them pay for non military sicknesses where the Vet had ALREADY paid insurance premiums. As it stands the Insurance Industry will be able to carry on STEALING premiums from Veterans knowing that they will not be forced to pay anything out as the Government will pick up the tab.

This faux outrage by some Vet Groups hid the real news that VA funding went up by more than $1.3 billion above what was asked for and as a result many of the promises made by President Obama during the campaign are now well on the road to being met.

[zulchzulu]

28. Wasn't the problem that vets were using private insurance over their VA benefits?

All I've seen were press releases from some of the vet agencies that didn't give the real reason for reform, namely that some veterans were using private insurance claims and wanting them deducted and trying to bypass the VA benefits that they are entitled to... That's what I was seeing as the reason for reform.

[CTyankee]

39. Why would veterans use private insurance instead of VA benefits?

That doesn't make any sense to me. Is it because they felt they couldn't get their care in a timely fashion from the VA but could with private insurance? That would be the only reason I could fathom to do it...

[OhioChick]

29. K&R

:kick:

[HughMoran]

31. Lol - I bet $1,000,000 that this was a diversion

...and it worked like a charm on many - great politics IMO. They never intended for a millisecond to go forward with this proposal. I love it! Love good politics!

[babylonsister]

33. The admin 'never fully embraced' the idea.

You're probably right! :fistbump:

[jberryhill]

32. It's almost funny how timid we are about actual political conversation...

...among the actors in our system.

The White House "backed away".... oh come now.

If I brainstorm 20 ideas on a blank piece of paper, then yes I'll even write down the stupid ideas along with the good ones.

Who said the administration "was considering" this proposal in any way approaching a decision point? Nobody.

But if anyone says, "Well, if we want to reduce abortions we could (a) provide comprehensive sex education including responsible approaches to sexual expression, (b) hand out free condoms, (c) deport all fertile women to another country or castrate men. Okay you pick?"

The headline would be "Administration Proposes Deporting Fertile Women and Castration"

[BlooInBloo]

34. Weren't there a bunch of ihateobama DU alarmists whining about the sky falling...

Because they had a discussion about it?

[flyarm]

35. No it was Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki who said the sky was falling! eom

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/10/veterans.health.insurance/index.html


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki confirmed Tuesday that the Obama administration is considering a controversial plan to make veterans pay for treatment of service-related injuries with private insurance.

[babylonsister]

36. I didn't know about Shinseki, but you forgot this little gem from your

article:

Asked about the proposal, Shinseki said it was under "consideration."

"A final decision hasn't been made yet," he said.

[flyarm]

40. I didn't forget anything..I read the entire thing..but people here are accusing others of

posting what was said..what was said was what is in the article..and the only people saying the sky was falling was people Obama chose to represent his administration!

I posted this ..it isn't my fault people didn't read the entire thing..as per DU rules , one can not post the entire articles..it is the readers or the lack of reading by others that makes things get out of context.

The accusations thrown around here are out of hand, and that can be attributed to people not reading full articles.

[LittleBlue]

37. This decision was beyond me from the start

I never understood why the administration would benefit from this. It seemed like needless antagonism.

[TexasObserver]

38. It was a dumb idea and it's good that it is being abandoned.

[PBS Poll-435]

41. Yes

Yes Yes Yes.

The cost savings was pitifully small for the amount of bad PR.

[genna]

42. I heard the story BUT I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT

I still don't believe it.

How in the world can you stand up for health care, soldiers receiving the treatment they need to be well after serving our country WELL and turn over their well-being to a system that is dumping pre-existing condition having people LEFT AND RIGHT. Some of these physical brain injuries and these missing limb cases will hinder soldiers and their help mates for the rest of their lives. I'd think they'd be the first cases a for profit hc system would dump because their care will be well into the millions.

In no way can Obama keep his word and consider that proposal. When I heard it, I said ain't gonna happen. When I heard some discuss it, I wondered what the basis for the speculation was.


After reading most of the board on a semi-consistent basis, I think some stuff that is placed here is to just set our hair on fire. It is not logical, reasonable or responsible. It isn't labeled rumor. It is opinion of 'people' in the know.

Whatever.

I try to only comment on the stuff that looks like people will fall for it.