The majority of the Republican Party has expressed its displeasure with the healthcare reform law recently passed by the Obama administration and Democrats in Congress. However, there is one glaring exception. Former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, of all people, supports the law. Frist, a former doctor himself, recently participated in an American Hospital Association panel when he made those statements. According to him, the law is relatively moderate. By no means does he consider the bill perfect. Dr. Frist gives the law’s cost control measures a “C” grade. That is still far better than the failing grade most of his ideological colleagues would give it, although the George W. Bush administration and Republican Congress prior to 2006 were also criticized for running up the budget deficit. Despite those concerns, he also said that he is proud of this administration for taking steps to expand access to affordable health insurance to over 30 million Americans. What does he think of those accusations that the law is socialism? First brushes them off. A nationalized health insurance plan would involve the government directly deciding on doctors’ compensation and owning hospitals, which the bill does not do. In addition, Frist predicts that the multi-state lawsuit against the health insurance mandate provision will fail. Will fellow Republicans listen to Frist? Being out of political office, he can afford to be more moderate. In addition, he is largely considered as part of the GOP establishment that repels Tea Party supporters almost as much as Democrats. In the past, he indicated that he would consider voting for the current bill if he had still been in the Senate, but we will never know if those were just empty words.

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