Status quo is not an option

In her column today, Marie Cocco makes a strong case for the public option:

The Commonwealth Fund, an independent health care think tank, examined the models currently competing for congressional support and found that a public plan with payments set in accordance with Medicare rates would save the federal government, employers and individuals the most by far. The savings were three times greater than those achieved with competition only among private plans. Even a modified version of a public plan with provider payment rates pegged somewhat above what Medicare pays produced greater savings.

Nonetheless, what is emerging from Congress is a health overhaul that isn't as cost effective as it could be and doesn't guarantee against lost coverage -- yet gives insurers millions of new customers whose purchases will be subsidized by taxpayers.

This is change the industry can believe in.