Health Reform in the House | Fact of the Day Ninety-six percent of Medicare expenditures are spent on patients with multiple chronic conditions.
(Robert Wood Johnson Foundation) | Health Resources |
Under the Microscope REPORT: America’s Seniors & Health Insurance Reform: Protecting Coverage & Strengthening Medicare
Since its inception in 1965, Medicare has provided a needed – and respected – health care service to our nation’s senior citizens and certain individuals with disabilities. However, rising health care costs, persistent gaps in the use of recommended services, and the threat of Medicare insolvency all undermine the health care that the program’s beneficiaries need and deserve. Health insurance reform will serve to strengthen the health care that our seniors receive. [White House, 8/28/2009] Read Fact Sheets below on how H.R. 3200, America’s Affordable Health Choices Act, improves health care for America’s seniors. [House Tri- Committee, July & August, 2009]
Health Care Headlines Amid the Acrimony, Congress has Consensus on Some Healthcare Issues
With a virtual civil war raging over parts of President Obama's healthcare agenda, the smoke of battle has obscured a surprising fact: Democrats and Republicans actually agree on a bundle of proposals that could make medical insurance better for millions of Americans.
[L.A. Times, 8/28/2009] Scenarios: Passing Healthcare Reform in Congress
Democrats in the Congress hope to pass President Barack Obama’s overhaul of the country's $2.5 trillion healthcare system amid mounting public skepticism and unified opposition from Republicans.
[Reuters, 8/27/2009] Reid's Views on Overhaul Taking Shape
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is often hesitant during the health care debate in Washington to express his personal views, but he let down his guard a bit this week in Nevada. [Las Vegas Sun, 8/27/2009] Warner Holds Out Hope For End of Life Proposals
“Before the hubbub,” as Senator Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia, put it on Thursday, he was promoting the idea of government incentives intended to help Americans decide on medical care at the end of their lives. [New York Times, 8/27/2009] Republican Chairman is of Two Minds on Medicare
Michael S. Steele, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, said in an interview broadcast Thursday that he wanted to protect Medicare while also remaining steadfast in his opposition to what he called President Obama’s “government-run health care system.” [New York Times, 8/27/2009] OPINION: Fixing Health Care is Good For Business
By Gary Locke, U.S. secretary of commerce
You have probably heard the horror stories about President Barack Obama's health-care proposals leading to rationed care and bankrupt businesses and governments. Those claims are flat wrong.
[Wall Street Journal, 8/29/2009] COMMENTARY: Financing Health Care Reform: 2009 vs. 2003
By Uwe Reinhardt, economics professor, Princeton University
American citizens — especially older ones — might keep this backdrop in mind as they behold and comment on the current administration’s and Congress’s travails to place the proposed health reforms of ’09 on a fiscally more responsible footing than was the M.M.A. ’03. [New York Times, 8/28/2009] OPINION: Kennedy Saw Health-Care Reform Die in the '70s
By Steven Pearlstein
Asked about his greatest regret as a legislator, Ted Kennedy would usually cite his refusal to cut a deal with Richard Nixon on health care. [Washington Post, 8/28/2009] Read a related article. |