Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Sofia Sanchez - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

In a conference call with reporters on Monday, administration officials said President Barack Obama’s newly released health care reform proposal is basically a modified version of the bill passed by the Senate.

“We are talking about the Senate bill with targeted and important changes..that achieve the President's goals and bridge the gap between the House and the Senate proposals,” said White House Office of Health Reform Director Nancy Ann-Deparle.

Obama's plan includes more generous subsidies for low and middle income Americans to purchase health insurance, and a removal of the Medicaid subsidies that were proposed by Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) to originally secure his vote. The plan does not include the controversial public option.

The plan also includes a proposal by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) that would give the Secretary of Health and Human Services the power to block insurance company premium increases if they don’t meet certain criteria.

“We thought it would be a more productive meeting if we brought one consolidated plan to use as a jumping-off point, said White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer. “We hope Republicans do the same.”

The unveiling of the plan comes just three days before the President's bipartisan Health Care Summit.