Hagan backs compromise to public option

[ccharles000]

North Carolina Sen. Kay Hagan, who has been the focus of an intense lobbying campaign, said Thursday she is committed to a compromise health care proposal that would provide an alternative to private insurance.

Hagan said she supports what is called the community health insurance option, that would be a government-backed plan available to people who can not get their insurance from employers.

"The bill provides a back-stop option for those without access," Hagan said in a teleconference from Washington. "It also competes with the private insurance companies."

The plan she is backing was drafted by the Senate Health Committee, of which she is a member, Rob Christensen reports. Hagan said the plan was similar to the so-called public option proposed by President Barack Obama.

Hagan was able to help craft the Senate Health comittee proposal in several ways: not requiring physicians to participate in the community health insurance option and not requiring fees tied to Medicare rates.

http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/hagan_backs_compromise_to_public_option

[mzteris]

1. NC - home of BC/BS . . .

I wonder how much she got paid.

I supported her from afar, but she's not much better than Liddy, it seems.

[John Q. Citizen]

2. Sell out!

[Eric J in MN]

3. If the payments aren't the same as Medicare, then the payments will be too high,

...and premiums will be high to raise the money for that.

For competitition which will lower premiums, we need for the public option to pay the same as Medicare.

[ccharles000]

4. kick