Despite all the obvious temptations, I haven’t written very much about the Republican alternative health care bill, coauthored by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK). It’s always fun–and indeed instructive–to highlight these sorts of policy proposals, and perhaps I’ll circle back to it. But right now there’s so much news out there about the more serious efforts, and the fate of reform is so uncertain, that there’s relatively little time to devote to lampooning the GOP’s legislation.
Enter the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. CBPP isn’t exactly the sort of organization you think of when you hear the word “lampooning.” But it’s hard not to read their analysis of the Republican bill and conclude they thought it was all a joke.
You can find the entire report here, but I’ve summarized it for you in the form of a dialogue between myself and the CBPP’s own subtitles.
- “Plan would significantly erode employer-based coverage”
Not a bad thing per se but terrible if there’s no viable alternative for those who lose their coverage.
- “Plan Fails to Create a Viable Alternative for People Losing Employer Coverage”
Ah, I see. Fair enough. But no doubt the market will be there to rescue people, right?
- “Bill Fails to Institute Needed Market Reforms”
Eesh. How so?
- “Optional State Exchanges Would Be Highly Vulnerable to Adverse Selection”
Meaning what?
- “Tax Credit and Subsidies Would Be Inadequate to Purchase Comprehensive Coverage”
Ok…But at least nobody who currently benefits form social insurance would be forced into this system. I’m confident of that.
- “Tens of Millions of Medicaid Beneficiaries Would Be at Risk of Becoming Uninsured”
Oh.
