Health Care Reform House Bill Contains Public Option - Language Changed in Final Bill

Read it and weep: the house reconciliation bill contains a section devoted to the establishment of a “Public Health Insurance Option” - Subtitle B - Section 221
Note: click on images to enlarge





That did not, apparently, make it to the final version; however, the language is written in such a way as to establish Federal exchanges State by State.

The Final Version signed by both Houses and the President varies slightly. HR 3590 contains the following:
“The Secretary Shall, directly or through agreement with a not-for-profit entity, establishes and operates such Exchange….”






This is in the case of Individual states non-compliance, and allows the Federal Government to effectively take over the State’s Exchange (Public Option).

Giving rise to the old cliché - If it walks like a duck…

The Bill singed in the Congress prior to reading any of the legislation (Pelosi, vote now, we promise the public will love it once they know what is in it!) was merged with the Senate version and some fine parsing of language took place.
It is no wonder state AG’s are now suing the Federal Government, as the primary requirement is that state’s foot part of the bill, or the Fed’s jump in and take over.