Nancy-Ann DeParle, the new White House healthcare policy czar, says the Obama administration is striving for a bipartisan consensus on healthcare reform.
However, she said during a Wednesday press briefing, the White House and Democrats may resort to using the budget reconciliation process – which takes fewer majority votes – to get healthcare reform passed.
DeParle, who has been the White House point person on healthcare for only a month, said she is spending 75 percent of her time on the Hill, "working as a team" with Congress on mapping out a healthcare reform plan.
"Congress is very engaged in writing specs for a bill right now," she said. "We are spending hours of time talking about the issues and it's a very active give and take."
DeParle said Obama has appointed a small team that includes officials from the Department of Health and Human Services and the White House Office of Management and Budget to work with her in guiding Congress.
DeParle, who formerly ran the Medicare program, said she has encountered many misconceptions from Republicans about what Obama is proposing as a public health plan.
She said the president is proposing a mechanism to lower costs and keep the private sector honest. He is proposing a government-sponsored health plan operated by private health plans, similar to state employee plans, with inherently low administrative costs and no emphasis on profit. The goal of lowering costs and increasing access is common across both parties, she said.
If there are members of Congress who are philosophically opposed to a government-run plan, "then we might not be able to agree," DeParle said.
When asked if the administration will push for reform through the budget reconciliation process – a plan strongly opposed by many Republican leaders – DeParle said her marching orders have been to work across the aisle.
"Congress is working on the budget resolution and it's really for them to comment on that," she said. "Both parties have used budget reconciliation in the past, and it's not the preferred way to go. We are hoping to work with both parties."
