Reid opts for opt-out, which he says will pass Senate

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced Monday that Senate healthcare legislation will include a public option with an opt-out provision for states.

The majority leader said he has sent legislation including such a provision to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), after which, Reid said, he will have the votes in the Senate to pass such a bill.

"As we've gone through this process, I have concluded that the best way to move forward is with a public option with an opt-out provision for states," Reid said in a press conference. "I believe that the public option can achieve the goal of bringing meaningful reform to our system."

Reid cited "strong consensus" among his caucus and the White House for the version he announced.

"I believe that as soon as we get the bill back from CBO...we will clearly have the support of my caucus," he said.

Among other key elements to be included in the bill would be the nonprofit cooperative option included in the Senate Finance Committee's marked-up version of the health bill. The so-called "trigger" mechanism for the public option will not be included, Reid said.