Health Reform in the House | Fact of the Day Under House health insurance reform legislation there would no longer be cost-sharing for preventive services, such as breast cancer screenings, for Medicare recipients. | | Follow Health Insurance Reform
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At The Time This Daily Dose Was Sent, Insured Americans Had Paid a “Hidden Tax” of 32,326,413,534 This Year In Additional Premium Costs To Cover Care For The Uninsured. Under the Microscope Moving Forward Today the House had a Democratic Caucus meeting on health insurance reform focused on slowing cost growth in health care and featuring Karen Davis from the Commonwealth Fund and Judy Feder, professor of public policy at Georgetown University and senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. The meeting marked the 60th hour of Democratic Caucus meetings devoted to health insurance reform. This is in addition to the countless other Member, Leadership, and staff meetings, as well as more than 2,000 constituent events on health care that have taken place this year across the country. Also today, Speaker Pelosi and Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Emeritus John Dingell led an event on the benefits of health insurance reform for seniors. Read more in this health insurance reform guide for seniors. On the Senate side, the Senate Finance Committee markup continued. Senate Majority Leader Reid announced he has cancelled the Senate’s Columbus Day recess so lawmakers can continue to work on reform legislation. Leader Reid and several Senators also held a press conference on how health insurance reform will benefit women. The Cost Of Failure The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Urban Institute released today what might be one of the most thorough reports on The Cost of Failure to Enact Health Reform: Implications for States. It’s a state by state analysis showing the cost of inaction to families, businesses, and states. Read the first article under the Headlines below on the report findings.
Health Care Headlines Without US Healthcare Plan, States Could Pay More
If the U.S. Congress fails to reform health care, states will spend more on their programs for the poor than they currently pay out, according to a new report on Wednesday. [Reuters, 9/30/09]
Click here to read the latest Cost Of Inaction report. Poll: Americans Willing To Fund Healthcare Reform
Most Americans would pay higher taxes to fund healthcare reforms that provide the best quality of care, but only a minority expects Washington to deliver it, according to a survey released on Wednesday.
[Reuters, 9/30/09] Obama Says $5B In Grants Will Aid Medical Research
The government on Wednesday awarded $5 billion in grants that President Obama said would pay for research into cures for cancer and other diseases, and create tens of thousands of jobs.
[Associated Press, 9/30/09] GAO Report: Millions In Fraud, Drug Abuse Clogs Medicaid
As Congress debates the government's role in health care, a report out Wednesday finds that state and federal officials failed to detect millions of dollars in Medicaid prescription drug abuse. [USA Today, 9/30/09]
Read how health insurance reform will cut waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid. Employees Face Big Hike In Health-Care Costs
Federal government employees can expect a big jump in their health-care costs in 2010, officials said Tuesday. Employees enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program will pay an average 8.8 percent more in health-care costs, according to figures released by the Office of Personnel Management. [Washington Post, 9/30/09] Read about Senators voting to give up FEHBPs for the Exchange. Baucus, Other Dems Still Looking For Health Tax Agreement
Senate Finance Democrats trying to soften a proposed tax on high-cost health insurance plans are still trying to reach an agreement with Chairman Max Baucus, said John Kerry, D-Mass. [CQ, 9/30/09] Reps. Baldwin & Polis: Public Option In Healthcare Would Not Be Disriminatory
Opponents of real competition and consumer choice in our healthcare system have pulled out all the stops in their quest to scare Americans into opposing much-needed reforms now before Congress. [The Hill, 9/30/09] Carper Floats Public Option Alternatives
Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) is quietly talking with the Senate Democratic leadership and Finance Committee members about an alternative to both the government insurance option and the nonprofit insurance cooperative. [Politico, 9/29/2009] Work Begins on National E-Health Record Network
Doctor's offices and hospitals have slowly started the difficult switch from outmoded paper records to sophisticated electronic systems in a bid to improve care and cut costs. [Associated Press, 9/29/2009] | 