Conrad: Healthcare co-ops ‘can work anywhere’

The cooperative model for healthcare reform “can work anywhere,” its lead proponent, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), argued Tuesday.

Conrad, the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee who floated the co-op model as a compromise in lieu of a public (or “government-run”) plan, defended more liberal Democrats’ criticism of his proposal in an appearance on CNN.

“Yes, we believe this model can work anywhere,” Conrad told CNN. “You look at cooperatives — they are operating nationwide very successfully.”

In particular, Conrad pointed to a co-op healthcare system in urban Washington state, which he said was a good example of how it could work in cities as well as more rural areas.

“One of the things they say is because they have lower rates of reimbursement, that allows them to provide efficiencies,” Conrad added. “That’s what we have to do across the country. We cannot continue with this ever-escalating cost.”

Some Republicans have made nice toward the compromise proposal, hoping to pick off enough centrist Democrats’ support for a public option to block such an option.