As the main stream media focused on the plethora of comings and goings at the White House over the past week, an alarming piece of news was raised that didn't receive much more than a "blip" on the news reporting radar.

            While the Senate was voting for and against different issues regarding the Affordable Health Care Act (ACA), insurers in several states were looking at increasing premiums by at least 30 percent next year.

            According to rate requests from the Department of Health and Human Services. The reasoning is due to the uncertainty of what officials will do next with the ACA.  I wonder what their reasoning was for the past few years of rate increases.

            Insurers must complete their rates by mid-August and in September sign agreements with the government to offer health plans next year.

            According to the report, there is a concern over the House and Senate approval of an overhaul in the health care plan that does away with the mandate that requires people to buy insurance or pay a penalty.  Many insurance industry experts say that requirement helps keep rates low by making sure young, healthy people sign up.

            And, of course, there is the concern the President will stay firm on his threat to cut cost-sharing reduction payments that help low-income people afford health care.

            Recently came news that a bi-partisan group of 44 members of Congress have come together and agreed on a set of principles to help stabilize the health insurance markets.  They call themselves the Problem Solvers Caucus.

            It seems that everyone agrees that there are problems with the ACA that need to be fixed, but throwing the baby out with the bath water isn't the answer.

            An interesting thing about this bi-partisan group is that one member of Congress cannot join without bringing a member of the opposing party into the group as well.

            Among others, the group's objectives are to find solutions for immediate and short-term issues like:  Bringing cost-sharing reduction payments under Congressional control and insure it has mandatory funding;   Creating a dedicated stability fund that states can use to reduce premiums and limit losses for providing coverage; Raise the mandate on the requirement for employers to provide insurance to businesses of 500 employees or more; Repeal the 2.3% tax on medical device supplies; and help with technical changes and guidelines for states that want to improve coverage and create more options for consumers.

            Wow!  A group of elected officials trying to work together in a bi-partisan manner for the good of the people. 

            You can be sure that there will be plenty of hand-wringing and compromise on the way to whatever solution they come to.  But, hopefully there will be a lot of hand-shaking and congratulations when they successfully complete their task.

            State and local politicians will be watching to see how well the Problem Solvers Caucus work together on this sensitive issue.  If it works, perhaps the idea of working together to solve government problems at all levels will grow.

            Oh yes, the people will be watching as well.