Health Reform in the House | Fact of the Day 82% of Americans say that the U.S. health care system needs either fundamental changes (55%) or needs “to be rebuilt” (27%). (CBS, Aug. 31) | Health Resources |
Under the Microscope POLLING: Read a recent compilation of polls showing a majority of Americans continue to support health insurance reform. A repeat of 1994 and failure to act would be devastating.
Health Care Headlines Democrats Told To Accentuate the Positive on Health Bill
The White House is urging congressional Democrats to stress the progress that has been made on legislation to overhaul health care and advising them to prepare for “a new phase in the debate.” [CQ Today, 9/4/2009] Read a related article. Dems Will Follow Obama On Healthcare
President Barack Obama will likely shape the healthcare debate going forward, a top House Democrat said Thursday. Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman Xavier Becerra (Calif.) said that despite a desire by many in the party to include a government-run insurance option in the bill, Democrats will listen carefully to Obama's direction.
[The Hill, 9/3/2009] Read a related article. Health Care Idea Has Public Plan Only As Backup
As President Obama faces conflicting pressures from the left and the right over his proposal for a new public health insurance program, White House officials are investigating a possible compromise under which the government would offer its own health plan only if private insurers failed to provide affordable coverage.
[New York Times, 9/3/2009] Read a related article. Democratic Factions Reaffirm Reform Priorities to Obama
Leaders of two House Democratic caucuses on Thursday reminded President Barack Obama of their health care reform demands in anticipation of his joint address to Congress next week.
[Roll Call, 9/3/2009] Read a related article and the CBC Letter. Gang of Six Gives It One More Try
Most top Democrats, including senior White House advisers, may no longer expect a health care deal out of the bipartisan “Group of Six,” but the senators still plan to talk Friday for the first time as a group in more than two weeks. [Politico, 9/3/2009] Read a related article. AAFP: Supporting All Reform Bills So Far
The AAFP has formally endorsed both the House bill and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee bill, the two pieces of legislation that have so far left committee. [National Journal, 9/3/2009] Health Care Reform: The Assault on Truth
As expected, the gloves are off in President Obama’s push for health care reform. Democrats and Republicans are battling over how to fix a system they all agree is broken—that’s how Congress is supposed to work. But this summer something new has entered the political arena—a tsunami of rumors, myths, fear-mongering and misinformation about the proposals that surges around the Internet in nanoseconds.
[AARP Bulletin, 8/14/2009] HMO Claims-Rejection Rates Trigger State Investigation
California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown is joining state regulators in scrutinizing the payment practices of seven major health plans in response to complaints from physicians and hospitals. [L.A. Times, 9/4/2009] OPINION: Let’s Get Fundamental
By David Brooks
This is not the time to get incremental. It’s the time to get fundamental. [New York Times, 9/3/2009] OPINION: The Other Health Care Story
By Ronald Brownstein
Many key stakeholders in the medical establishment have come together behind reform.
[National Journal, 9/5/2009] OPINION: It's Time to Change Course
By David Walker, former U.S. comptroller general, and president, Peter G. Peterson Foundation
There were a number of vocal — and even inappropriate — protests organized at selected town hall meetings centered on derailing health care reform proposals. But we cannot let this recent drama distract us from the real and legitimate concerns that Americans have about the costs behind the current plans. [Roll Call, 9/3/2009] |