Sherrod Brown: “Earlier this year, a confidential document prepared for House Republicans somehow found its way into the public realm.…”

“Earlier this year, a confidential document prepared for House Republicans somehow found its way into the public realm. It was not big news at the time, just some talking points. They were prepared by a Republican polling firm in response to the Democrats' Medicare prescription drug proposal. According to their analysis, an effective way to create opposition to the type of proposal offered by the President and House Democrats is to call it a ``one-size-fits-all'' plan, a ``big government'' plan, or worst of all, a ``one-size-fits-all big government'' plan. One cannot blame the public for reacting to these phrases. I do not know anyone who likes big government simply for big government's sake. However, one can blame politicians for exploiting these terms instead of confronting the fundamental differences between the Democrat and Republican prescription drug proposals. The Democrats' plan would add an optional drug benefit to Medicare. The Republican plan would bypass Medicare and subsidize private stand-alone insurance plans instead. It is difficult to conceive of a program offering more choice than Medicare. The Medicare program covers medically necessary care and services. Beneficiaries can see their own health care professional and go to the facility that they choose. Under the prescription drug plan, similarly, enrollees could go to the pharmacy of their choice.”