HEALTH REFORM: Reid Backs State "Opt-Out" For Public Plan

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said the merged health reform Senate bill will contain a public plan option but states can opt out until 2014. He said the "public option" is not a silver bullet but will boost competition, keep insurers honest, and give people more choices. He said it will add "meaningful reform" to a broken health care system.

Reid is sending his proposed bill to CBO for scoring "in a few hours." At a news conference he stopped short of saying he was positive he had 60 votes, but expressed quite a bit of confidence about health reform. He said he had the support of the White House, and key Democratic negotiators Max Baucus and Chris Dodd.

UPDATE: Statement from Chairman Baucus:

“It is time to make our system work better for patients and providers, for small business owners and for our economy. It is time for health care reform. For more than a year, we’ve been working to meet the goals of reducing the growth of health care costs, improving quality and efficiency and expanding coverage. There are a tremendous number of complicated issues that go into reform and the public option is certainly one of them. I included a public option in the health reform blueprint I released nearly one year ago, and continue to support any provision, including a public option, that will ensure choice and competition and get the 60 votes needed to pass the Senate. Success should be our threshold and I am going to fight hard for the 60 votes we need to meet that goal this year.”