Health Reform in the House | Fact of the Day Currently many Medicaid providers do not get paid adequate rates by Medicaid, resulting in less providers available to Medicaid patients. H.R. 3962 requires state Medicaid programs to annually submit to the HHS Secretary their provider reimbursement rates for review. | | Follow Health Insurance Reform
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At The Time This Daily Dose Was Sent, Insured Americans Had Paid a “Hidden Tax” of $41,325,825,224 This Year In Additional Premium Costs To Cover Care For The Uninsured. Under the Microscope SENATORS STICK TO GOAL After yesterday’s evening caucus meeting, Democratic Senators emerged still determined to get a bill passed before Christmas. The President met with Democratic Senators at the White House this afternoon to reiterate the importance of getting a health insurance reform bill passed in the Senate this year. Read coverage of the meeting with the President in Politico and Roll Call. CLOSING THE ‘DONUT HOLE’ COVERAGE GAP Yesterday Senate Majority Leader Reid, Senator Dodd, and Senator Baucus announced that the final health insurance reform bill would close the Medicare Part D coverage gap or ‘donut hole.’ Currently Medicare Part D will cover prescriptions for seniors up to a certain dollar amount - $2,700 a year – then drop coverage until their drug costs reach another, much higher annual level of $6,100. Millions of seniors reach the donut hole coverage gap every year. Read remarks from yesterday’s press conference.
Read the thank you letter from AARP to Senate Majority Leader Reid. The House-passed bill closes the donut hole over time, starting with $500 in 2010. And until the donut hole is completely closed, the cost of brand name drugs would be reduced by 50 percent for seniors in the coverage gap, under H.R. 3962.
Health Care Headlines Senate Health Bill Unlikely To Include Medicare Buy-In
Senate Democratic leaders appeared poised Monday night to abandon efforts to create a government-run insurance safety net in their push for health-care reform, as they attempted to close ranks around a bill they hoped would win the backing of all 60 members of their caucus. [Washington Post, 12/15/2009] Obama Report Says Health Plan Curbs Cost Growth
The Senate’s health-care legislation will slow growth in medical spending, the Obama administration said as chief executive officers and members of both parties questioned the measure’s cost curbs. [Bloomberg, 12/14/2009] Read the report. Obama To Work To Solidify Support For Health Bill
After months of turmoil, President Barack Obama and Senate Democrats are reaching for the unity they need to pass health care legislation by Christmas, but without the government-run insurance program that liberals have long sought. [Associated Press, 12/15/2009] Lieberman Supported Medicare Expansion
Sen. Joe Lieberman was for a Medicare expansion before he was against it. Democrats circulated video Monday from a Connecticut newspaper's interview in September showing Lieberman voicing support for a so-called Medicare buy-in allowing uninsured people as young as 55 to purchase coverage.
[Associated Press, 12/14/2009] Drugmakers Fight Plan To Allow Imports
Drugmakers intensified their lobbying push Monday against a popular proposal to allow Americans to buy cheaper drugs from other countries, one of several heated disputes that have bogged down negotiations over a health-care reform bill. [Washington Post, 12/15/2009] The Five Biggest Myths About Health Reform
As the clock ticks toward what could be final congressional approval of the most sweeping health-reform legislation in more than 40 years, a little perspective is in order. [MarketWatch, 12/14/2009] OPINION: Senate, Don't Leave Town Without It
By Bruce Reed
After a prolonged, eventful debate on health care, senators in both parties will soon have to give their final answer. Most Republicans seem content to keep saying no, even though standing in the way of reform all these years has left the U.S. with the highest health care costs on earth. [Politico, 12/15/2009] | 