“Better Care Plan”: A Public Option Choice
George C. Halvorson, Stephen M. Shortell MBA, MPH, Ph.D., Laurence Kotlikoff Ph.D., Elizabeth Mitchell Ph.D, Richard M. Scheffler Ph.D., John Toussaint MD, Peter A. Wadsworth MBA, Gail R. Wilensky Ph.D.
Background: The Biden-Harris health care proposal offers a public option plan for the uninsured and for those who prefer it to alternatives for which they are eligible. We strongly support the features and principles of the Biden-Harris public option plan to expand insurance coverage but believe that it should not be based on the traditional fee-for-service payment model. We know from long experience that fee-for-service payment promotes more care, but it does not promote, support, recognize, or reward better care.