How Bad Is Your State’s Health Care? 0
As if you didn’t already know, you can now quantify how bad your state is doing in providing care, courtesy HHS. Secretary Kathleen Sebelius released a series of new reports today that quantify the problems, state by state. The new reports are available at www.HealthReform.gov and include information on health care cost and quality in all fifty states.
Each report includes data regarding the health care status quo such as:
- Percent increase in family premiums since 2000.
- The hidden tax individuals and families pay as a result of subsidizing care for the uninsured.
- Percent of state residents without insurance.
- Overall quality ratings for health care in each state.
- The impact of failing to adequately invest in preventative measures that could prevent disease and illness.
In a call with reporters, Sebelius talked broady about the reports, saying they provide a “clear demonstration that there are problems with health care in every state, the helath crisis impacts all of America,” and that they provide more than just numbers and facts, but “represent real people across the country who are struggling.” All of which is true, but none of which is particularly surprising.
In follow up questions, Sebelius reinforced that the administration wants a strong public option, and lauded both the House bill and the HELP committee for including it. As of yet, whether it’s going to be in the Senate Finance bill is a mystery, as Baucus is keeping the details of his bill–which was scored by the CBO as coming in under the $1 trillion mark–secret, even from committee members.
She said that the regional co-ops Conrad has suggested are not an acceptable alternative to a national health program for the administration. She didn’t rule out a national co-op, but did rule out anything less than a national program.
At the same time, Sebelius reinforced the idea that this bill has to be done with 60 votes, and praised Chuck Grassley for working with Baucus on a plan. See the contradiction here? The White House wants a public option and a “bipartisan” bill, and Grassley continues to maintain that no bipartisan bill will include a public option.
Something’s got to give here, and it shouldn’t be all those hurting American people out there all over the country.
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