Next Stab at Health Reform Looks More Promising

If health care reform passes this time, a major factor will be that its erstwhile enemies are now rooting for it, the Wall Street Journal reports. An industry roadblock killed the Clinton administration’s attempt in the early 1990s, but this time, insurers are playing ball. “You see a range of diverse stakeholders trying to work together to achieve health care reform,” says a trade-group rep.

Though veteran legislators say they see more cooperation this time around, that is no guarantee of success. It’s easy for insurers and doctors to look good now by sounding supportive. “Talk is cheap on the front end of this thing,” says one health care consultant. “The rubber hits the road when that 1,000-page document comes out with specifics.” (More health care stories.)