incremental health care reform

[A.J. Peticolas]

> > There seems to be a lack of proposals that provide a
>  >bridge from incrementalism (tho SCHIP is a pretty
>  >good-sized increment, I think) to full-blown national
>  >health insurance.....But what about something
>  >short of universal but much better than what we
>  >have now?  Have you some ideas in this vein?
Didn't have time to respond to this when posted, but the best thing I have
seen is at http://www.acponline.org/hpp/seq_plan01.pdf  -- it is a draft
proposal by the American College of Physicians - American Society of
Internal Medicine from Nov. 2001.  They put out an initial draft about a
year earlier and asked for individual comments; this new draft is far 
superior and now they asked for comments from other medical organizations.
I believe the final draft is anticipated this month and assume there will 
be press coverage at that time.

     				Regards,

				 Anne Peticolas <occasional lurker>           

				 Austin, TExas
Below is outline of plan as of November:
By September 30, 2002, Congress would enact a sense of the congress 
resolution, which would establish the goal of making affordable health 
insurance available to all Americans by January 1, 2009. . . .

    By Sept 30, 2003, Congress would enact legislation to make affordable 
coverage available to all Americans with incomes up to 200% of federal 
poverty level . . . by expanding Medicaid to all Americans with incomes up 
to 100% of federal poverty level, and creating a premium subsidy program 
to enable those with incomes between 100 and 200% of poverty to buy 
coverage through CHIP, Medicaid, or from private insurers. . . .effective 
date . . . Jan 1, 2005.

    By Sept 30, 2004, Congress would enact legislation to make affordable 
coverage available to all remaining uninsured Americans . . . creating an 
income-related premium subsidy program . . . through qualified health 
plans offered and approved by purchasing groups . . . To maintain a role 
for employer-based coverage, the premium subsidy could be applied to the 
employee's share of employer-provided coverage, and small businesses would 
ahve the option of obtaining coverage from a purchasing group. . . . 
effective date Jan 1, 2007.

    Bky Sept 30, 2005, Congress wd enact legislation to discourage 
individuals from voluntarily choosing not to obtain covereage . . . 
effective date Jan 1, 2009.

It's a 28-page, very thoughtful, proposal, which I can recommend.