Health Reform in the House | Fact of the Day By 2017, a middle-income family that earns $80,000 could end up spending more than four out of every 10 dollars they earn on health care alone, before any deductions for taxes or fringe benefits are taken out of their gross wages. | | Follow Health Insurance Reform
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At the Time This Daily Dose Was Sent, Insured Americans Had Paid a “Hidden Tax” of $50,578,975,098 since January 1, 2009 in Additional Premium Costs to Cover Care for the Uninsured. Under the Microscope GIVING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE MORE CONTROL OVER HEALTH CARE BY A SIMPLE MAJORITY VOTE Today the President made a speech, surrounded by nurses, doctors, and physician assistants, on how he wants the Congress to go forward with health insurance reform. The President clearly defined the differences between the two parties, saying that if Republicans believe less oversight of insurance companies is the answer, then they don’t have to vote for reform. He went on to say that health insurance reform has been debated for decades and “deserves the same kind of up-or-down vote that was cast on welfare reform, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, COBRA health coverage for the unemployed, and both Bush tax cuts – all of which had to pass Congress with nothing more than a simple majority.” Yesterday, the President gave Republican leadership an opportunity to incorporate four more Republican proposals from those offered in last week’s bipartisan meeting, into the final reform package. Senate Minority Leader McConnell wrote back yesterday saying thanks but no thanks. Regardless, many GOP ideas have already been incorporated in Democratic legislation. Read more in White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer’s blog post: Incorporating the Best Ideas from Both Parties
Health Care Headlines As Democrats Seek To Push Through Health Bill, Obama Reaches Out To Republicans
As Democrats on Capitol Hill prepared a risky effort to muscle sweeping health-care legislation to final passage, President Obama on Tuesday made a last gambit to split Republicans on the issue, proposing to incorporate a handful of GOP ideas into his signature domestic initiative. [Washington Post, 3/3/2010] GOP Rejects Obama's Compromise Offer On Health Bill
President Obama offered to add a handful of Republican ideas to his 10-year, $950 billion health care plan Tuesday but was rebuffed and urged to start over. [USA Today, 3/3/2010] How Real Is The Dems' Momentum?
Are Democrats actually getting their act together? After months of disarray, Democrats are closing in on a bipartisan deal on financial reform — with the backing of a key Republican. [Politico, 3/2/2010] Lawmakers Expand Investigation Into Health Insurance Rate Hikes
The scope of a congressional investigation into health insurance rate hikes in California expanded Tuesday as lawmakers summoned the chief executives of four of the nation's largest for-profit health insurers to testify about medical claims denied for individuals with preexisting conditions. [L.A. Times, 3/3/2010] Health Care Industry Sick With Medical Waste
In a home office, slipped inside file cabinets and stacked on top of workspaces, Cindy Holtzman has amassed a collection of "medical waste." She's not hoarding used syringes or old bandages. She's hanging on to hospital bills that are loaded with outrageous examples of money that was poorly spent. [CNN, 3/3/2010] OPINION: Health Reform: Why Aren't We Talking About Prices?
By Bernadine Healy, M.D.
One thing we can all agree on is that Americans spend too much on medical care.
[U.S. News & World Report, 3/3/2010] INTERVIEW: The Chairman of the [Senate] Budget Committee Explains the Reconciliation Process
As chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, Sen. Kent Conrad actually oversees the reconciliation process when it's used. And that means he knows a lot about it: how it can be used, when it should be used, how it traditionally has been used, and how it can be stopped. [Washington Post, 3/2/2010] Read here previous Casualties of the Reconciliation Process. | 