FDL Action Health Care Update: Friday (11/6/09)

by: FDL Action

Fri Nov 06, 2009 at 20:19:36 PM EST

1. Jon Walker asks, "Does Landrieu Not Know That All Her Demands Regarding The Public Option Have Already Been Addressed?" Specifically, Walker wonders if Landrieu is aware that "House Democrats adopted [Chuck] Schumer's idea of a 'level playing field' public option," one that is supported by premiums (not "government-run, taxpayer subsidized" as Landrieu seems to think). Very strange.

2. Jane Hamsher writes that "Anna Eshoo (D-PhRMA) may be the author of the language granting drug companies endless monopolies on biologic drugs, but she couldn't have done it without the help of her good friend Jane Harman." Hamsher urges everyone to sign the petition telling Senators Brown, Stabenow and Schumer to fight for affordable generic drugs for cancer and AIDS patients.

3. Jon Walker says that, "[a]s it stands, I can't say I'm 100% confident in the success of a negotiated rates public option limited to only the new exchange." Walker explains in detail how "the public option will reach several important tipping points in the first few years that will determine its long term success or failure." Fascinating stuff.

5. Jon Walker asks if the Republican strategy of "[d]ragging their heels, endless delaying, obstructing everything, screaming about overreach and government takeovers" has "succeeded in paralyzing enough conservative Democrats at just the wrong moment." Walker worries that Democrats could end up "facing two opponents in 2010...Republicans, and staying home." As someone who just observed exactly that in Virginia, I can say that this is not farfetched at all.

6. Jon Walker live blogs the House Rules Committee meeting to discuss the House health care reform bill HR 3962. Click here for Part II of Walker's live blog.

7. An incredibly busy Jon Walker writes about a "new CBO analysis of the House bill [that] demonstrates how weak the CBO believes the new risk adjustment mechanism will be."

8. Jane Hamsher asks asks everyone to "[h]elp Medical Students Fight PhMRA for affordable generics with their POP video."

Finally, keep an eye on the House over the next few days, keep the pressure on your representatives for the best possible health care reform, and have a great weekend!