[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 20207]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   THE PUBLIC HEALTH INSURANCE OPTION

  (Mr. LEVIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, the voluntary public health insurance option 
is an important part of health care reform for a number of reasons.
  First, the public plan will provide a competitor for private plans 
that will help make the entire system more efficient and help drive 
down prices for everyone. Second, it provides assurance to all 
Americans that there will be an affordable, comprehensive health 
insurance plan available to them no matter where they live or work. In 
many places there are currently only one or two insurers people can 
choose from.
  Third and of vital importance, the public plan will have the ability 
to test and implement innovative methods of payment that have the 
potential to make the entire health care system more efficient and 
patient centered.
  The current fee-for-service structure is a fragmented system. No 
provider will be required to participate in the public plan, but for 
those who do, it's important for the public plan to be able to 
implement effective payment reforms for all participating providers. 
Allowing individual providers to negotiate their own rates and their 
own methods of payment with the plan will slow the vital process of 
moving us towards a more efficient, integrated health care system that 
serves both the patients and the taxpayers.
  Now is the time to act on health care reform, including a robust 
public health insurance option.

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