Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) summed the fundamental difference in vision between the Democrats and Republicans as free market versus government or regulatory mandate. The Republican incremental ideas do not radically change the system, he said. Obama responded that the current Democratic proposals also do not radically change the system.

Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) began the wrap-up of the summit by asking that since the two sides agreed on most issues, why not take what was agreed upon and move on. Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) then stated that the country desperately needs the Senate reform legislation.


Going into a seventh hour, the President concluded by again summarizing the agreements between the parties, particularly on insurance market reforms. Even those insurance reforms not agreed on, he said, were popular with the American people as polls have shown. Also in agreement was the idea that small businesses and individuals could be part of a larger group for better purchasing power, and again Obama stated that exchanges were not a government takeover but a means of getting that purchasing power. A major difference was the question of minimum coverage requirements of insurers--he asked the attendees at large if that issue could be resolved. While noting that they agreed on buying insurance across state lines, he expressed concern that protections should be implemented so that insurance companies would not have a "race to the bottom." He noted again that the most contentious issue was how to provide coverage for those without any.

President Obama then concluded the summit by proposing that the Republicans do some "soul searching" about what they would be willing to embrace to help those without insurance, and about addressing pre-existing conditions exclusions. If that gap can't be closed, he said, then Congress would go on arguing about procedures to use (apparently referring to the reconciliation procedure). Acknowledging that for some Republicans, supporting the current proposals may not be politically expedient, he said he still thought the summit was worthwhile to make the effort and that the nation cannot have another year-long debate on health care. Obama's final question was whether there was enough serious effort that in a month or six weeks the two sides can resolve the issues?

Archived video of the summit can be accessed on the White House blog: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/02/25/a-productive-day-another-step-towards-putting-americans-charge-their-health-care

Back to HCB News

More Industry Headlines