Co-ops in Health Care Debate

Senator Kent Conrad, D-N.D., is predicting that health care reform will NOT pass if the government run option is included in the bill.  This declaration comes several days after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi fervently asserted she could not pass a bill that excluded a public option.  The compromise that seems to be taking the forefront is the co-op option. I didn't even know this was even a possibility.  When I think of co-op, my mind immediately goes to the local Harvest Market or tenant run housing. "Co-op" and "health care": two words I never imagined in the same sentence, let alone the same public policy. 

So, what exactly is the co-op option?  Here is a link to an article in the New York Times that explains a little bit about the history of co-op health care in the US and what will be needed to make the option work. Warning: this article is a bit biased on the government run option.