It is well known by now that the Senate version of the healthcare bill has now become a compromise bill. Gone is the original definition of the so-called public option in favor of a politically acceptable range of alternatives pushed as a mechanism to just get the bill passed. Former Governor and 2004 presidential candidate Howard Dean, MD is on board as supporting the Medicare “buy-in” proposal. He apparently proposed this element as part of a healthcare overhaul in his failed presidential bid. On Countdown with Keith Olbermann last night, Dean was “optimistic”, yet cautious – optimistic about the expansion of Medicare to those between 55 and 64 to those who wish to apply, yet cautious about the lack of such a provision to guarantee subsidies to access care if they do opt in for the Medicare buy-in.^[1]

At this point, liberal Democrats appear to be falling in line with the support of these new compromises, and already the rationalizations have begun. Some of them are even proclaiming that this path could get them their ultimate goal of a single-payer model (unlikely) and that the original public option was weak in the first place. All of these events makes one wonder if proponents of the public option shouldn’t have called this entire campaign for what it apparently really was — that of expanding Medicare on a provisional basis (already straining a government entitlement system on the financial brink).

For the record, Obama is praising^[2] the efforts of the Democratic majority in this debate — as he should because it guarantees his attachment to the most significant healthcare legislative overhaul in 40+ years. He’ll take what he can get, and his address to the American people will put the best spin on it. | LINK

1. Those choosing Medicare could get subsidies, but not until 2014 when subsidies for everybody else participating in the exchange becomes available. [↩]
2. Obama said the agreement created “a new framework that I believe will help pave the way for final passage” of what he called historic health care reform legislation that would increase coverage for consumers while lowering costs. [↩]

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