opt-out clause

U.S. Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid said Monday health care reform legislation scheduled for the U.S. Senate floor in coming weeks would contain a public health care option with an opt-out clause for states. But a public health care option wouldn’t be a slam dunk in New Mexico if the decision fell to state lawmakers.

Health care reform legislation took another big step today when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., announced that the Senate version of health care reform will include a public health insurance option — with an opt out clause.