Health Reform in the House | Fact of the Day H.R. 3962 would require the Secretaries of Labor, Treasury, and Health and Human Services and the Health Choices Commissioner to conduct a study together examining whether an employer hardship exemption should be added to the law. | | Follow Health Insurance Reform
 facebook  twitter |
|
| Health Resources |
At the Time This Daily Dose Was Sent, Insured Americans Had Paid a “Hidden Tax” of $44,536,111,077 since January 1, 2009 in Additional Premium Costs to Cover Care for the Uninsured. Under the Microscope PRESIDENT’S WEEKLY ADDRESS In his weekly address, President Barack Obama discussed the benefits of health reform that Americans will receive in the first year, and how reform will help build a new foundation for American families. After reform becomes law, uninsured Americans with a pre-existing condition will be able to purchase affordable coverage, insurance companies will be prohibited from imposing lifetime and annual limits on care, small businesses will receive tax credits to purchase coverage for their employees, along with many other improvements to the health care system. In short, patients and doctors will have more control over health care decisions, and insurance company bureaucrats will have less. Watch, download, or read the President’s Address.
(White House, 01/09/2010) Obama: Health Bill Will Create Jobs
President Barack Obama used his weekly radio address to tout the economic benefits of overhauling the health care system, saying that reform would help build a "new foundation for our economy to create the good, lasting jobs and shared prosperity of tomorrow." [Politico, 01/9/2010] Obama Says Benefits From Health Care Overhaul Would Be Immediate
President Obama said Saturday that Americans would see immediate benefits from a landmark overhaul of the nation’s health insurance system and he urged Congress to swiftly reconcile differences over the legislation so it could be signed into law in the coming weeks. [New York Times, 1/9/2010]
Health Care Headlines Cutting Costs Is Real Issue in Health Care Overhaul
As Democratic Senate and House leaders privately hammer out a final compromise on their competing versions of health care legislation, the controversies focus on a government-run option and abortion. [Bloomberg News, 1/11/2010] Report: Health Costs Up Slightly Under Senate Bill
Americans would see only a modest rise in health care costs under the Senate's plan to extend coverage to 34 million people who currently go without health insurance, government economic experts say in a new report. [Associated Press, 1/10/2010] Nancy Pelosi's Uphill Health Bill Battle
Speaker Nancy Pelosi is telling her caucus not to believe stories that the House will simply roll over and accept the Senate’s hard-fought health care bill. [Politico, 1/9/2010] Cover More People Or Shrink Our Cuts, Hospitals Tell Capitol Hill
Congressional negotiators should adopt House-passed provisions to cover the uninsured or else reduce the cuts in Medicare hospital payments planned by lawmakers to help pay for expanded coverage, the American Hospital Association said Friday in a 27-page letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. [CQ HealthBeat, 1/8/2010] A Democratic Party Split On Children’s Health
Henry A. Waxman is known as one of the most ardent champions in Congress for giving children better medical care. [CQ Weekly, 1/11/2010] Insurance Mandate Feeds GOP's Attack on Legal Front
As congressional Democrats try to iron out differences in the House and Senate health-care bills, Republicans are attacking the legal premise of the legislation, saying Congress has no power to make people carry health insurance or pay a penalty or tax. [Wall Street Journal, 1/11/2010] EDITORIAL: Health Reform, the States and Medicaid
The country needs health care reform, and Congress should move quickly to pass legislation. But as House and Senate leaders work to forge a consensus bill for final approval, they should look for ways to lessen the Medicaid burden on hard-pressed state budgets — and ensure that relief is fairly apportioned.
[New York Times, 1/10/2010] OPINION: Democrats Are Ready to Compromise to Get Health Reform Done
By E.J. Dionne Jr.
Reaching agreement on a health-care bill is harder in theory than it will be in practice. Before the measure lands on President Obama's desk, there will be many crisis points, much posturing and dire warnings of impending failure. [Washington Post, 1/11/2010] COMMENTARY: How To Stop Insurer Price Gouging
In the context of legislation that would cost nearly a trillion dollars, it's easy to overlook a provision that, on its own, would cost a mere billion. But one such provision in the House bill could make a huge difference in the success of reform--if House-Senate negotiators put it in the final package and especially if, upon doing so, they make it even stronger. [New Republic, 1/7/2010] | 