Universal Healthcare?

teggy · February 26, 2009, 10:27pm

The only issue i can see being posed is after the budget has passed is that they woo Biden who is overseeing its spending, and can possibly influence his decisions. Or become well aware and lobby strong to ensure no such measures are passed that tighten the noose around their necks, for next time.

I believe Obama knows that he won’t get it all, but pitch the bargaining chip high and you may end up close to the desired results. There’s alot a stir in motion from the following excerpt of the headlines:

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama’s prescription for the nation’s ailing health care system comes with Medicare cuts and tax hikes — usually poison pills that doom any overhaul effort in Congress.
But the budget Obama proposed Thursday is not a finished blueprint for overhauling health care. Rather it’s the opening bid in a tough negotiation.** Anybody who’s been in a bargaining session knows you never end up with your opening bid.**
Obama is asking Congress: If you’re going to cover an estimated 48 million uninsured Americans in the world’s costliest medical system, how do you pay for it?
Obama’s plan would set aside $634 billion over 10 years in a major effort to cover all Americans — a goal that could cost more than $1 trillion. Half the money would come from tax increases on upper-income earners; the other half from cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. Private insurance plans serving Medicare seniors would take the biggest hit, but hospitals, drug companies and home health agencies also face cuts. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090226/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_budget_health

Hospitals also face cuts…Which hospitals? Public sector or Private?