Montana Governor wants out of Obamacare

[Dragon]

So he can set up a single-payer system in Montana modeled on the one across the border in Saskatchewan.

Montana governor wants state-run health insurance program | Great Falls Tribune | greatfallstribune.com

HELENA — Gov. Brian Schweitzer said Wednesday he will ask the U.S. government to let Montana set up its own universal health care program, taking his rhetorical fight over health care to another level.

Like Republicans who object to the federal health care law, the Democratic governor also argues it doesn't do enough to control costs and says his state should have more flexibility than the law allows. But Schweitzer has completely different plans for the Medicare and Medicaid money the federal government gives the state to administer those programs.

The popular second-term Democrat would like to create a state-run system that borrows from the program used in Saskatchewan. He said the Canadian province controls cost by negotiating drug prices and limiting nonemergency procedures such as MRIs.

Schweitzer said the province's demographics and economy are similar to Montana in several ways — yet its residents live longer while spending far less on health care. . . .

The governor told Marguerite Salazar, a regional director of the Department of Health and Human Services, that Congress has designed a "pack of crap" that gives away far too much to the pharmaceutical industry.

Salazar said she would convey the message to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

Schweitzer said Montanans with private insurance could drop that coverage if they choose and buy into the state-run plan at a cheaper rate. He envisioned a system that would cover, with copays for service, all the uninsured in Montana.

Now that's the ticket. Let's repeal Obamacare and replace it with something that will really work! Go, Brian Schweitzer!

 

[Conservative]

wait a second, Sparky... you mean a DEMOCRAT doesn't like Obamacare and wants out?

 

[syrenn]

wait a second, Sparky... you mean a DEMOCRAT doesn't like Obamacare and wants out?

yep...they are the ones filing for exemptions wholesale.

 

[Dragon]

wait a second, Sparky... you mean a DEMOCRAT doesn't like Obamacare and wants out?

Why not? You don't really BELIEVE all those right-wing talking points about how this is "socialized medicine," do you?

The ACA was a big disappointment to liberals, in case you weren't aware of that. A single-payer plan is what we want, or failing that at least a public option. What we have is a stopgap measure that won't really solve the problems.

 

[GHook93]

I like it test it at the state level and see if it works! I personally think MT might pick up some businesses if they create a Single Payor system and employers weren't on the hook to provide healthcare for their employees.

So he can set up a single-payer system in Montana modeled on the one across the border in Saskatchewan.

Montana governor wants state-run health insurance program | Great Falls Tribune | greatfallstribune.com

HELENA — Gov. Brian Schweitzer said Wednesday he will ask the U.S. government to let Montana set up its own universal health care program, taking his rhetorical fight over health care to another level.

Like Republicans who object to the federal health care law, the Democratic governor also argues it doesn't do enough to control costs and says his state should have more flexibility than the law allows. But Schweitzer has completely different plans for the Medicare and Medicaid money the federal government gives the state to administer those programs.

The popular second-term Democrat would like to create a state-run system that borrows from the program used in Saskatchewan. He said the Canadian province controls cost by negotiating drug prices and limiting nonemergency procedures such as MRIs.

Schweitzer said the province's demographics and economy are similar to Montana in several ways — yet its residents live longer while spending far less on health care. . . .

The governor told Marguerite Salazar, a regional director of the Department of Health and Human Services, that Congress has designed a "pack of crap" that gives away far too much to the pharmaceutical industry.

Salazar said she would convey the message to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

Schweitzer said Montanans with private insurance could drop that coverage if they choose and buy into the state-run plan at a cheaper rate. He envisioned a system that would cover, with copays for service, all the uninsured in Montana.

Now that's the ticket. Let's repeal Obamacare and replace it with something that will really work! Go, Brian Schweitzer!