The closer we get to possible legislation mandating an increase in government involvement in the delivery of healthcare in this country, the only thing that’s certain is uncertainty. What seemed like a virtual win-win for both sides in the national healthcare reform package, buttressed by strong bipartisanship has apparently devolved into retreat with the Republicans sticking to their newfound guns on strong limits on a partial government remedy.

What’s giving Republicans their energy to draw a line in the sand? Lobbying by private third parties. Over the past year or so, the spending on healthcare lobbying has increased at a rate of over 40% at the hands of the largest insurers and pharma companies.

While that is to be expected, what wasn’t foreseen is the fight that the political left and moderate Obama has on this issue as debate begins. Suddenly on the defensive, everyone from single-payer advocates to local and national provider unions are scrambling to do something to at least mollify what they see as unchecked (read: unregulated) healthcare spending.

Essentially the spectrum of debate on healthcare spending boils down to how much the government will administer care. Single payer proponents want 100% of that pie. Whereas Obama favors so-called healthcare exchanges where the consumer could choose the level of access based upon their ability to pay — creating a level of competition in the process, it is precisely this point at which many Republicans are calling foul, ever wary of a slippery slope into which corporate third party payers will be run out of business carrying competition and innovation with them.

Scorecard, anyone? | LINK

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