Obama Summit Follow-Up Reaches Out to GOP

In a follow-up letter to last week's health care summit, President Obama yesterday signaled to the Congressional Republican leadership that he is open to considering four GOP health reform ideas. Specifically, they are:

1. Sending undercover federal agents to physician practices that accept reimbursements from government health program to conduct investigations to combat fraud and abuse
2. Allocating $50 million to launch demonstrations of alternatives to resolving medical malpractice disputes, including health courts
3. Increasing Medicaid provider reimbursements in a fiscally responsible manner
4. Expanding the use of Health Savings Accounts (HSA) by offering high-deductible health plans in health insurance exchanges
   

Immediately, Senators Grassley (R-IA) and McConnell (R-KY) renounced the letter as merely a show. Mr. McConnell moreover warned Democrats that if they insist on jamming a comprehensive health reform, they would surely pay for it in this year's mid-term elections.

For more, click here for a story from the New York Times.
And, to read the President's letter, click here.