Health Reform in the House | Fact of the Day Under the status quo, a typical couple in traditional Medicare will pay on average nearly $90 more next year to subsidize private insurance companies that do not provide their Medicare benefits but run Medicare Advantage plans held by 22 percent of the Medicare population. | | Follow Health Insurance Reform
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At the Time This Daily Dose Was Sent, Insured Americans Had Paid a “Hidden Tax” of $45,845,315,466 since January 1, 2009 in Additional Premium Costs to Cover Care for the Uninsured. Under the Microscope OBAMA: “I WILL NOT STOP FIGHTING FOR YOU” Today President Obama held a townhall in Ohio where made clear that he has not given up his fight for the American people and for health insurance reform. “…I'm not going to walk away just because it's hard. We are going to keep on working to get this done -- with Democrats, I hope with Republicans -- anybody who's willing to step up. Because I'm not going to watch more people get crushed by costs or denied care they need by insurance company bureaucrats. I'm not going to have insurance companies click their heels and watch their stocks skyrocket because once again there's no control on what they do. So long as I have some breath in me, so long as I have the privilege of serving as your President, I will not stop fighting for you.” Read more about his remarks to the crowd here.
Health Care Headlines A New Search For Consensus On Health Care Bill
Even as Speaker Nancy Pelosi affirmed her commitment to pass far-reaching health care legislation this year, members of Congress and health policy experts began Thursday to deal with the reality that a smaller bill would have a better chance. [New York Times, 1/21/2010] Democrats Are Urged To Preserve Broad Healthcare Overhaul
As lawmakers explore ways to scale back the House and Senate bills, consumer groups and patient advocates say, 'Now is not the time to turn back.' [LA. Times, 1/22/2010] Some House Dems Warming To Idea Of Scaled-Back Healthcare Reform
There is growing consensus in the House Democratic Caucus that comprehensive healthcare legislation is dead and the only option is to pass a series of piecemeal measures. [The Hill, 1/21/2010] If Bills Fail, a Quandary for Insurers
With the possible collapse of the Congressional health care effort, health insurers might seem to have reason to celebrate. [New York Times, 1/21/2010] How the Budget Reconciliation Process Works
After Scott Brown's (R) win in Massachusetts' special election, Democratic leaders no longer have a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate and are weighing the use of arcane budget rules to pass at least part of the long-debated health overhaul package. [Kaiser Health News, 1/21/2010] States Worry About Medicaid Stimulus Money Drying Up Under Scaled-Back Health Bill
News outlets report on health care funding gaps in state budgets, including Massachusetts, Maryland, Georgia and Wisconsin, and the possible impact of a scaled-back federal health bill. [Kaiser Health News, 1/22/2010] ANALYSIS: Paring Back Health Care Not So Easy
Trimming back the 2,000-page, trillion-dollar Democratic health care bills to the parts that average folks understand and like may not be as simple as it sounds. [Washington Post, 1/22/2010] COMMENTARY: Abandoning Health Care After the Brown Election, and Other Washington Nonsense
By Steven Pearlstein
Honestly, in a city that thrives on nonsense, we've heard more of it in the past few days than you normally do in a year. [Washington Post, 1/22/2010] Read a related article. OPINION: Do the Right Thing
By Paul Krugman
A message to House Democrats: This is your moment of truth. [New York Times, 1/21/2010] OPINION: A Smaller, Bipartisan Health Care Bill: Where to Start
By Robert Laszewski, president, Health Policy & Strategy Associates
I've heard many people say it won't be possible to pass a bipartisan health care bill in today's poisoned environment. [Kaiser Health News, 1/22/2010] | 