Reply #4: White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs Signals Single-Payer Is Off The Table

[Better Believe It]

Teddy Shines At Health Summit; Single-Payer Off The Table
New York Daily News
March 5, 2009

Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) shrugged off his bout with brain cancer and received a standing ovation when he made an appearance Thursday afternoon at the White House health care summit. “Since he got such a weak reception when he walked in, I think that it’s only fitting that we give Ted Kennedy the first question,” Obama joked.

Meanwhile, even though Obama invited Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), the chief sponsor of single-payer health insurance legislation, the White House signaled that adopting the single-payer system is off the table — and that is a blow to Obama’s left-leaning supporters.

“The President doesn’t believe that’s the best way to achieve the goal of cutting costs and increasing access,” said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs.

Single-payer health care pays medical costs from a single fund, usually run by the government. Australia and Canada have single-payer universal health care systems.

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dc/2009/03/teddy-shines-at-health-summit.html