We have seen stranger things happen, so why not now?

Why couldn't we see real reform for change -- change that we can all believe in -- when it comes to health care reform? Why can't this week's vote be the primer for bipartisan discussions and action?

For those who thought this issue was resolved in March 2010 with the controversial passage of "Obamacare" and the Tea Party protests that highlighted the weekend vote in Washington, the House of Representatives' vote to repeal the historic health care reform package this week served as the first volley in 2011 of the ongoing battle to get a permanent solution for America's health care system -- one that pushes back against the Democrat-led legislation of just a year ago.

In this political environment, is a health care two-step -- one that will bring about something better than what we got from 2010's historic bill -- really viable?

The prevailing opinion in much of the media and political banter has been that the House vote was a symbolic move more than anything else. However, examples from last month's bipartisan legislative accomplishments indicate that this vote to repeal and replace may provide a few opportunities to take a different -- and better -- approach to health care reform.

As we saw last month, the willingness to compromise with the other side of the aisle has opened the door to solutions that the majority of Congress can agree on -- and across political lines. The unpopular tax compromise, met with the disgust of many on the left, led to the passage of two bills that affected the domestic and international landscape.

Similarly, this week's vote has the potential to lead to real dialogue among the major players from both parties as well as with the president to bring about affordable, efficient health care reform in a manner unlike the self-absorbed, Democrat-dominated process led by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Over the past two years, many of the Republican proposals for reform were stymied in the political process, leaving little room to leverage competitive ideas for the best legislation possible.

Now the House leadership has the opportunity to bring alternatives that make sense for both philosophical perspectives in America, while bringing solutions that work to the table. Ideas such as insurance portability across states -- an oft-forgotten item promoted by President Obama -- may now have a chance to be appropriately incorporated into health care reform.