Health Reform in the House | Fact of the Day From 2000 to 2009, the number of people in families spending more than 10 percent of their pre-tax income on health care will grow by nearly 22.7 million—an increase of 54.4 percent. | Health Resources |
Under the Microscope On Saturday, President Obama discussed the need to pass health care reform this year in his Weekly Address to the nation. Watch the video here or read the transcript of President Obama’s remarks.
Read the coverage of President Obama’s Weekly Address in Politico, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Roll Call, and The Boston Globe.
Congressional Tricaucus Members to Introduce Health Equity Legislation
The Congressional TriCaucus - comprised of the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus - will hold a news conference on Tuesday, June 9 at 10:00 a.m. to introduce the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2009, legislation to address health disparities that disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minorities. Bill summary HERE. Location: The House Triangle, located at the base of the East Capitol steps.
(Rain Location in B-318 RHOB)
Health Care Headlines DNC Lays Foundation for Healthcare Reform
The Democratic National Committee is trying to lay the groundwork across the country for broad acceptance of President Obama’s upcoming overhaul of the nation’s healthcare system. [The Hill, 6/6/2009] Obama to Forge a Greater Role on Health Care
After months of insisting he would leave the details to Congress, President Obama has concluded that he must exert greater control over the health care debate and is preparing an intense push for legislation that will include speeches, town-hall-style meetings and much deeper engagement with lawmakers, senior White House officials say. [New York Times, 6/6/2009] Sebelius Backs Public Health Insurance Option
The government needs to create a public health insurance plan because many parts of the country are monopolized by a single private health insurer, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Friday in an interview. [Wall Street Journal, 6/5/2009] Kennedy Bill Would Make Employers Provide Care
Employers would be required to offer health care to employees or pay a penalty — and all Americans would be guaranteed health insurance — under a draft bill circulated Friday by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's health committee. [Associated Press, 6/6/09] State Coverage Model No Help for Uneasy Insurance Industry
In reasserting his support last week for a new government health plan for the uninsured, President Obama stoked the fears of private insurers that they would not be able to compete with a Medicare-like option and might gradually be priced out of existence. [New York Times, 6/6/2009] House Liberals Insist on Strong Gov't Health Plan
Eighty liberal lawmakers, in a letter sent to House Democratic leaders Friday, forcefully demanded a “robust and affordable” new government-run health insurance plan be part of healthcare reform.
[The Hill, 6/5/2009] PhRMA Defends Vulnerable Dems
What a difference a Speaker’s gavel makes. Just a few years ago, before Democrats took control of Congress, the pharmaceutical industry was busy funneling millions to Republican candidates, at times giving the GOP three dollars for every one headed to Democrats. [The Hill, 6/3/2009] GOP Sees W.H. Letter As Snub
Republican leaders in the House complained on Friday that President Barack Obama is blowing them off after he seemed to ignore their weeks-old request for a meeting to discuss health care reform.
[Politico, 6/6/2009] Ailing Kennedy Key to Health Bill
The future shape of the U.S. health-care system could hang on the uncertain health of one very prominent American. [Wall Street Journal, 6/8/2009] GOP Senator Irked at Obama over Health Care
A Republican Senate chairman whose involvement is key if there's going to be a bipartisan health care deal is responding angrily to President Barack Obama's latest comments on the issue.
[Associated Press, 6/7/2009] If All Doctors Had More Time to Listen
When Dr. José Batlle met his 93-year-old patient in her small Bronx apartment, she didn’t have much furniture beyond a small TV, a sofa and a wheelchair. What she did have in abundance were pills — 15 types from a variety of doctors, including a pulmonologist, a cardiologist and a gerontologist.
[New York Times, 6/6/2009] EDITORIAL: Paying for Universal Health Coverage
For Congress and the administration to keep the promise of comprehensive health care reform, they will have to find the political will to pay for universal coverage and other investments that are needed right away but will not produce quick savings. The cost could reach $1.5 trillion over the next decade.
[New York Times, 6/7/2009] OPINION: Fixing Health Care: When Patients Don't Know BestBy Scott Haigh, MD – orthopedic surgeon & Time contributing writer
Few spontaneous injuries are as obvious as a rupture of the Achilles tendon. So why is it that the patient I saw today and the one I saw last week both came to me having had MRI scans of their ankles?
[Time, 6/5/2009] OPINION: Taming the Insurance WildernessBy Anthony Wright, executive director of Health Access California
If there's any consensus among consumers or health policy experts alike, it is that the individual insurance market doesn't work. For most people, the fact that people are denied or charged more for so-called "pre-existing conditions" is intolerable and, which is why such regulatory reforms like "guaranteed issue" and "community rating" are so important. [New Republic, 5/6/2009]
|