Health Reform in the House | Fact of the Day Seventy-nine percent of women with individual market health insurance policies do not have any maternity coverage. The House health insurance reform legislation includes coverage of maternity care as a benefit category in the essential benefits package. | | Follow Health Insurance Reform
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At The Time This Daily Dose Was Sent, Insured Americans Had Paid a “Hidden Tax” of $33,262,840,205 This Year In Additional Premium Costs To Cover Care For The Uninsured. Under the Microscope Work in the House Continues Today the House had another Caucus meeting on health insurance reform. Also, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) is meeting with Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) to discuss possible areas of common ground – six months have passed without response since Mr. Hoyer first asked Republican Leaders for their thoughts on possible areas of compromise. Yesterday the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released the score of the Senate Finance Committee amended bill. The SFC health insurance reform bill would cost $820 Billion over 10 years and reduce the deficit by $81 Billion. It would cover 94 percent of the population. Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) has said that the Committee will likely take a vote on Tuesday. State By State Health Care Comparisons Below are two recent state-by-state reports showing a wide variation between states in different health care categories, as well as press coverage of one of the studies. Variation in Insurance Coverage Across Congressional Districts [Urban Institute, 10/5/2009] Aiming Higher: Results from a State Scorecard on Health System Performance [Commonwealth Fund, 10/8/2009] 'Shockingly Wide' Health Gaps Among States
A new "scorecard" lists "shockingly wide variations" among the states when it comes to the health of their residents, says the president of the Commonwealth Fund, which compared such factors as access to care, insurance coverage and avoidable hospital admissions. [USA Today, 10/8/2009]
Read about your state or view the interactive map.
Health Care Headlines Health-Care Bill Wouldn't Raise Deficit, Report Says
Congressional budget analysts gave an important political boost Wednesday to a Senate panel's health-care overhaul, projecting that the $829 billion measure would dramatically shrink the ranks of the uninsured and keep President Obama's pledge that doing so would not add "one dime" to federal budget deficits. [Washington Post, 10/8/2009] Projected Surplus For Health Care Bill Probably Can’t Contribute To Its Bottom Line
Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus touted the $81 billion surplus in his health care bill Wednesday, but the intricacies of Senate rules mean he probably won’t be able to use it to provide additional subsidies or reduce tax increases in the bill. [CQ Today, 10/7/2009] Finance Committee Vote On Baucus Healthcare Bill Scheduled For Tuesday
The Senate Finance Committee will vote Tuesday morning on an $829 billion healthcare reform bill, giving chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) extra time to shore up wavering votes. [The Hill, 10/8/2009] Division Fizzes Up Within GOP Over Resistance To Health Plan
The scene is familiar: Republicans criticizing Washington's inaction on health care. Only now, they're blaming Republicans. [USA Today, 10/8/2009] Quinnipiac: Most Americans Support Public Option
Democrats received a boost in the health care debate on Capitol Hill Wednesday when budget crunchers said the Senate bill will cost $829 billion over 10 years and slightly reduce the budget deficit. And today, Democrats can find some encouraging poll data in the latest Quinnipiac survey on national attitudes on the health care overhaul. [Wall Street Journal, 10/8/2009] Read a related fact sheet. 'Consumer Reports' Chief Backs Health Overhaul
In a historic step this week, the nonprofit Consumers Union, which publishes Consumer Reports magazine, unveiled the first television advertisement in its 72-year history: a spot that encourages Congress to overhaul health care this year. [NPR, 10/7/2009] OPINION: Let Congress Go Without Insurance
By Nicholas D. Kristof
Let me offer a modest proposal: If Congress fails to pass comprehensive health reform this year, its members should surrender health insurance in proportion with the American population that is uninsured.
[New York Times, 10/8/2009] | 