A good Progressive Idea for Health Care courtesy of Senator Schatz of Hawaii

When the Senate gets back into session next month, Republican Lamar Alexander and Democrat Patty Murray will attempt to get bipartisan legislation to stabilize the Obamacare insurance markets. While that is going on, Bernie Sanders and his supporters will continue to push for Medicare for all. Some Republicans have toyed with the idea of expanding Medicaid in their states if they can do it at 100 percent of the poverty line instead of 133. While not an ideal solution, it could potentially increase the number of insured in states that do not offer the Medicaid expansion. It could also send a signal to governors in states that have expanded that they (at their political risk) can increase the eligibility requirements. Health Care experts are calling for greater negotiation on drug prices which seems to be a winning issue but has not yet galvanized universal support. One new/not so new idea being put forth by Senator Brian Schatz is a variation of the public option where people can buy into Medicaid policies. It is the middle ground between Medicare for all and the Republican ideas of Medicaid expansion and should be considered as this will help reduce the levels of the uninsured and be another step towards universal coverage. At the very least, it is another forward looking idea for Progressives and Democrats to run on.

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/8/10/16127264/voxcare-waiver-really-big-deal-medicaid

http://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/gov-obamacare-reforms-health-policy-experts.html

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/8/22/16171160/schatz-health-care-medicaid