CPC Sensible Health Care Proposal?

Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), has worked to muster support for a real and robust public option against a well-funded corporate opposition. We remain committed to a robust public option that:

• Enacts concurrently with other significant expansions of coverage and must not be conditioned on private industry actions.
• Consists of one entity, operated by the federal government, which sets policies and bears the risk for paying medical claims to keep administrative costs low and provide a higher standard of care.
• Be made available to all individuals and employers across the nation without limitation.
• Allows patients to have access to their choice of doctors and other providers that meet defined participation standards, similar to the traditional Medicare model, promotes the medical home model and eliminates lifetime caps on benefits.
• Has the ability to structure the provider rates to promote quality care, primary care, prevention, chronic care management and good public health.
• Utilizes the existing infrastructure of successful public programs, such as Medicare, in order to maintain transparency and consumer protections for administering processes, including payment systems, claims and appeals.
• Establishes or negotiates rates with pharmaceutical companies, durable medical equipment providers and other providers to achieve the lowest prices for consumers.
• Receives a level of subsidy and support that is no less than that received by private plans.
• Ensures premiums are priced at the lowest levels possible, not tied to the rates of private insurance plans.