Obama takes single-payer off the table

Obama says single-payer health care not practical

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hITfom2rwHxvzXH9fMrN4pOUGrqQD98652CG1

RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) – President Barack Obama says if he were building the health care system from scratch, a single-payer system would be the best approach. But he says his goal is to improve the current system.

Responding to a question at a town hall-style meeting in New Mexico on Thursday, Obama said
he expects a plan from Congress by the August recess that will be a “vast improvement” over the current system.

Obama was asked why a “single payer” plan–where the government makes payments directly
to medical care providers–isn’t on the table.

He said the nation has a tradition of employer-based health care using private insurance companies, and that a lot of people [i.e., some mammoth corporate interests--MCM] are satisfied with it.

Congressional leaders have said a single-payer plan is politically impractical.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Originally posted: Obama takes single-payer off the table

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