Senate Democrats move on healthcare

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Senate Democrats move on healthcare
Email|Link|Comments (1) Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor November 12, 2008 01:00 PM

A key Senate Democrat unveiled a healthcare reform plan today -- the first move by congressional Democrats to push President-elect Barack Obama to move on the issue quickly after his inauguration.

The proposal from Finance Chairman Max Baucus of Montana -- whose staff has reportedly been working for months with the staff of Senator Edward M. Kennedy, of Massachusetts -- echoes key elements of Obama's campaign proposals, including expanding Medicaid and the children's healthcare program. It also is similar to the landmark plan in Massachusetts.

But like the plan offered by Obama's former rival, Hillary Clinton, it requires people to get coverage while offering subsidies to those who can't afford it. Obama didn't include the individual mandate in his campaign proposals, saying it was more important to make coverage affordable so that people would get it without a requirement.

Baucus told reporters that he talked to Kennedy this morning, and while he wouldn't disclose the conversation, he suggested they are on the same page.