WASHINGTON – President Obama is expected to address the issue of a public option, which some Democrats have said is a non-negotiable aspect of passing a health reform bill, in a televised speech tonight.
Obama has been a long-time supporter of healthcare IT, saying it can exact change in the system by saving money, avoiding medical errors and streamlining testing. He is likely to tout it in tonight's speech as a step in the right direction.
Obama has pledged to invest $50 billion toward healthcare IT advancement over the next 10 years and has already invested $20 billion in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Tonight's speech comes as Congress returns from recess facing heated debate over health reform and pressure to pass a bill.
According to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, Obama will use tonight's speech to lay out clearly what health reform means to Americans. "He will speak directly to the American people about his vision for achieving stability and security through healthcare reform for the American people," Gibbs said.
"For those that are fortunate to have health insurance but still struggle with skyrocketing premium costs or insurance abuses, he'll address those. For those that don't have health insurance, he'll obviously address the need to provide accessibility to affordable health insurance," Gibbs said. "And I think he will obviously clear up any confusion about what's not in healthcare reform. And lastly, I think he will answer many of the big questions about how we move forward on healthcare reform and what he considers reform to truly be."
Gibbs said Obama will also address the issue of a public option, which some Democrats have said is a non-negotiable aspect of passing a bill.
Obama's plan for a public option would provide a choice primarily for those in the private insurance, small group or small business insurance markets, Gibbs said. In tonight's speech, he said, Obama will explain exactly what the public option entails.
Newt Gingrich, former Republican House speaker and founder of the Center for Health Transformation, said he fears Obama's public option would lead to socialized medicine in America.
"Tonight President Obama has another opportunity to show us if he's willing to listen to us, or to his party's left wing," Gingrich said. "In his speech to Congress this evening, President Obama has a choice to make. He has to choose between listening to what the American people are telling him, and what the left is telling him."
