The testimony begins by mentioning a large number of positive aspects of the legislation. The role and importance of an individual mandate is then briefly discussed. It argues that the public plan that is proposed in the plan is important for overall cost containment and for budget savings. The plan would address problems in the current market that are caused by increasing concentration in insurance and hospital markets. Further it is argued that it is in fact possible to structure a fair competition between public and private health insurance plans. Finally, the testimony makes recommendations for the financing of the Medicaid expansion and for modifying the employer mandate proposal.