Healthcare
1/22/2010 | Healthcare
Health care the hot topic in abortion debate
USA Today
Players in the abortion debate gathering in Washington, D.C., and around the country Friday are focused on the prospect of a health care overhaul.
On the 37th anniversary of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion, health care "is really the big issue," says Mary Lou Gartner of Penn Hills, Pa., political chairwoman of People Concerned for the Unborn Child.
On the other side of the issue, the National Organization for Women will hold a rally and vigil in front of the Supreme Court to "make the point that abortion care is health care," says NOW president Terry O'Neill.
1/21/2010 | Healthcare
Democrats begin discussing smaller health bill
Associated Press
President Barack Obama and his Democratic allies are conceding for the first time that they may have to accept a less ambitious health overhaul bill than the massive one they've struggled for a year to assemble.
Shorn by Massachusetts voters of their pivotal 60th Senate vote and much of their political momentum, the White House and congressional leaders are considering a more modest version of Obama's top legislative priority. It could focus on curbing insurance company practices like denying coverage to sick people and on helping low-earning people and small businesses afford coverage, officials said.
1/20/2010 | Healthcare
President Obama Says Voter Anger, Frustration Key to Republican Victory in Massachusetts Senate
ABC News
President Obama warned Democrats in Congress today not to "jam" a health care reform bill through now that they've lost their commanding majority in the Senate, and said they must wait for newly elected Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown to be sworn into office.
The president also said the same voter anger that swept him into office in 2008 carried Brown into office on a stunning upset victory Tuesday night over heavily favored Democrat Martha Coakley.
1/19/2010 | Healthcare
Democrats Face Loss of Kennedy Seat, Health-Care Vote
Bloomberg.com
Democrats face the possibility of losing their most iconic U.S. Senate seat, held for almost 47 years by the late Edward Kennedy, in a Massachusetts election today that could also cost them their 60-vote Senate supermajority needed to help pass a health-care overhaul.
In just more than a week, Democrat Martha Coakley, the state attorney general once considered a sure bet for the Senate, has watched her lead evaporate. Some polls show her trailing state Senator Scott Brown, who was more than 30 points behind last November.
1/15/2010 | Healthcare
Unions will dodge O's health tax
New York Post
Big Labor got some big love from President Obama and congressional Democrats yesterday after they agreed to exempt union workers from the whopping “Cadillac tax” on high-cost health-care plans until 2018.
The sweetheart deal, hammered out behind closed doors, will save union employees at least $60 billion over the years involved, while others won't be as lucky -- they'll have to cough up almost $90 billion.
The 40 percent excise tax on what have come to be called "Cadillac" health-care plans would exempt collective-bargaining contracts covering government employees and other union members until Jan. 1, 2018.
1/15/2010 | Healthcare
Feds vs. states: Who should run health market?
MSNBC
The fight over whether states or the federal government will have more clout in a proposed health insurance marketplace is escalating — and the outcome has big implications for consumers.
This issue is one of the key disputes in the current negotiations between leaders of the House and Senate as they meld their health bills. The House, which would establish a national exchange run by the federal government, argues that setting a uniform program would help protect consumers. The Senate, which wants each state to create and run its own exchange, says states have more experience overseeing insurance plans and know their residents’ needs better.
1/14/2010 | Healthcare
Jackley, others say Congress wrong in Neb. deal
The Daily Republic
State Attorney General Marty Jackley is among 14 attorneys general nationwide calling for the House and Senate to remove a provision from the health care reform bill that they claim gives special treatment to Nebraska for new Medicaid enrollees.
Jackley and Republican attorneys general from several states dispute the constitutionality of the provision in a letter sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., shortly after the Senate voted to approve the bill last month.
1/13/2010 | Healthcare
Obama, Democrats Meeting Privately to Discuss Health Care Bill on Wednesday
Associated Press
With congressional negotiators starting to make decisions on a final health overhaul bill, top Democrats are hoping a White House session with President Barack Obama will narrow differences between the House and Senate.
Negotiators from the White House and the two chambers have begun closed-door meetings already and seem likely to abandon a House-approved surtax on the wealthy even as they consider extending the Medicare payroll tax to investment income of high earners, Democratic officials said.
1/8/2010 | Healthcare
Battle Over 'Exchanges' Regulator
Wall Street Journal
Health Insurers Seek State Oversight; House Democrats Prefer Federal Government
Health insurers are girding for a fight over who should regulate the new marketplaces that would sell policies to 30 million Americans under the health-care bills pending in Congress.
Lawmakers liken the marketplaces, or "exchanges," to travel Web sites where consumers buy airline tickets after seeing side-by-side comparisons of prices and schedules. The health-care exchanges would be mainly for people who don't have insurance coverage from their job, and for some small businesses.
Congressional Democrats and insurance companies both say they want robust regulation of the exchanges to prevent deceptive marketing of health plans.
1/7/2010 | Healthcare, Marriage
Married Couples Pay More Than Unmarried Under Health Bill
Wall Street Journal
Some married couples would pay thousands of dollars more for the same health insurance coverage as unmarried people living together, under the health insurance overhaul plan pending in Congress.
The built-in "marriage penalty" in both House and Senate healthcare bills has received scant attention. But for scores of low-income and middle-income couples, it could mean a hike of $2,000 or more in annual insurance premiums the moment they say "I do."
The disparity comes about in part because subsidies for purchasing health insurance under the plan from congressional Democrats are pegged to federal poverty guidelines. That has the effect of limiting subsidies for married couples with a combined income, compared to if the individuals are single.
Recommended Guests:
Karin Agness, Founder and President, Network of enlightened Women (NeW)Alan Chambers, President, Exodus InternationalRev. Clenard Childress, Jr., Assistant Director, Life Education and Resource NetworkMarjorie Dannenfelser, President and Chairman of the Board, Susan B. Anthony ListScott Davis, Director of Student Ministries, Exodus InternationalLen Deo, President, New Jersey Family Policy CouncilWilliam Devlin, National President, Redeem The VoteJessica Echard, Executive Director, Eagle ForumTim G. Echols, President/Founder, TeenPactColin Hanna, Colin Hanna, President, Let Freedom RingDr. Janice Hollis, Bishop, Progressive Believers MinistriesBishop Harry R. Jackson, Senior Pastor, Hope Christian ChurchPeter Lillback, President, Westminster Theological SeminaryJoe Murray, Columnist, The BulletinAmy Payne, Director of Communications, Americans for ProsperityJesse Lee Peterson, Founder and President, Brotherhood Organization of a New DestinyPhyllis Schlafly, President and Founder, Eagle ForumChristopher Slattery, Founder and President, EMC Frontline Pregnancy CentersDavid Smith, Executive Director, Illinois Family InstituteRandy Thomas, Executive Vice President, Exodus InternationalLorianne Updike, President & Executive Director, The Constitutional Sources ProjectDavid Wheaton, Author, Speaker, Radio Talk Show Host, TheChristianWorldview.com1/7/2010 | Healthcare
Sestak puts blame on Democratic leaders for slipping support
Pittsburgh tribune-Review
Rep. Joe Sestak blames Democratic leaders for the plunge in public support for overhauling the health care system, saying Wednesday they failed to defend proposals that helped carry the party to victories in 2008.
"They said it would be transparent. Why isn't it?" said Sestak, a Delaware County Democrat, in a meeting with Tribune-Review editors and reporters. "At times, I find the caucus is a real disappointment. We aren't transparent, not just to the public but at times to the members."
1/6/2010 | Healthcare
Obama wants to fast track a final health care bill
USA Today
The White House didn't say much about last night's health care talks between President Obama and congressional Democrats, but officials made it clear they're cool with fast-tracking the final phase of legislation, with no public hearings and no Republican involvement.
1/5/2010 | Healthcare
C-SPAN Challenges Congress to Open Health Care Talks to TV Coverage
Fox News
The head of C-SPAN has implored Congress to open up the last leg of health care reform negotiations to the public, as top Democrats lay plans to hash out the final product among themselves.
Congressional leaders, however, reportedly are expected to bypass the traditional conference committee process, in which lawmakers from both parties and chambers meet to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of a bill. Instead, The Associated Press reports that top Democrats at the House, Senate and White House will figure out the final product in three-way talks before sending it back to both chambers for a final vote.
12/29/2009 | Economy, Healthcare
Expanding Health Coverage and Shoring Up Medicare: Is It Double-Counting?
New York Times
At the heart of the fight over health care legislation is a paradox that befuddles lawmakers of both parties.
Separate bills passed by the Senate and the House would squeeze nearly a half-trillion dollars from projected spending on Medicare over the next 10 years. These savings would help offset the cost of providing coverage to people who are uninsured.
At the same time, federal accountants say the money would shore up the Medicare trust fund, so the program could continue paying hospitals to treat older Americans in the future.
Recommended Guests:
Karin Agness, Founder and President, Network of enlightened Women (NeW)Barry Asmus, Senior Economist, National Center for Policy AnalysisDavid Bossie, President, Citizens UnitedDan Celia, Host, "Financial Issues Live" Radio ProgramPhil Clements, Managing Director, Center for Christian Business Ethics Today, LLC.Ward Connerly, Author/Founder and Chairman, American Civil Rights InstituteMarjorie Dannenfelser, President and Chairman of the Board, Susan B. Anthony ListWilliam Devlin, National President, Redeem The VoteJames Edwards, Cofounder, Olive, Edwards, & Cooper, LLCJoseph Farah, CEO, Founder, WorldNetDailyJames Gelfand, Senior Manager of Health Policy, U.S. Chamber of CommerceLou Giuliano, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (r, ITT CorporationColin Hanna, Colin Hanna, President, Let Freedom RingLowman Henry, Chairman & CEO, Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research, Inc.Larry Hunter, President, The Social Security InstitutePhillip Kim, Assistant Professor of Management and Human Resour, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of BusinessJoe Murray, Columnist, The BulletinGrover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform (ATR)Amy Payne, Director of Communications, Americans for ProsperityChuck Stetson, Co-founder and Managing Director, PEI FundsTony Strickland, Taxpayer AdvocateJohn Weiser, Board Member, Westminster Theological Seminary , In Medias Res12/29/2009 | Healthcare
GOP’s ‘Repeal Health Care’ Plan Faces High Hurdles
The Washington Independent
As soon as the Senate passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on Dec. 24, Republicans and conservative activists started making a promise to voters. Give them a victory in the 2010 midterm elections, and they’ll repeal the bill.
“Every Republican in 2010 and 2012 will run on an absolute pledge to repeal this bill,” said Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the House who remains a key strategic thinker for the party, on the Dec. 27 episode of “Meet the Press.”
“This has an unusual ability to be repealed, and the public is on that side,” said Max Pappas, the vice president of public policy at FreedomWorks, in a Dec. 28 interview with Avi Zenilman. “The Republicans are going to have to prove that they are worthy of their votes.”
12/23/2009 | Healthcare
Ala. Dem defects to GOP over health care, policy
Associated Press
A U.S. House Democrat who opposes the health care overhaul announced Tuesday he is defecting to the GOP, another blow to Democrats ahead of the midterm elections.
U.S. Rep. Parker Griffith spoke to reporters at his home in northern Alabama, a region that relies heavily on defense and aerospace jobs.
"I believe our nation is at a crossroads and I can no longer align myself with a party that continues to pursue legislation that is bad for our country, hurts our economy, and drives us further and further into debt," Griffith said as his wife Virginia stood by his side.
12/23/2009 | Healthcare
Audit Says State Wasted $92 Million on Medicaid
The New York Times
New York’s Medicaid system, the state’s largest single expense, lost at least $92 million to improper payments, billing errors and poor recordkeeping during the last five years, according to several audits released Tuesday by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
In one instance, a Medicaid recipient in Poughkeepsie was provided with $300 round-trip daily taxi service to visit her child in a long-term care facility in Albany, which cost the state roughly $196,000 before the authorization was revoked.
12/22/2009 | Healthcare
Health bill money for hospital sought by Dodd
Associated Press
A $100 million item for construction of a university hospital was inserted in the Senate health care bill at the request of Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., who faces a difficult re-election campaign, his office said Sunday night.
The legislation leaves it up to the Health and Human Services Department to decide where the money should be spent, although spokesman Bryan DeAngelis said Dodd hopes to claim it for the University of Connecticut.
12/22/2009 | Healthcare
GOP senator: Democratic health care deals 'sleazy'
Associated Press
A Republican senator who has opposed President Barack Obama's health overhaul effort said Tuesday that the deals Democratic leaders have cut to round up the votes they need to push the measure through the Senate have been "sleazy."
Speaking Tuesday on NBC's "Today" show, GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina cited concessions won by Nebraska Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson, whose support gave Democrats the 60th and final vote they need. Among other things, Nelson won an agreement that the federal government will pay to expand Medicaid services in Nebraska.
Said Graham: "That's not change you can believe in. That's sleazy."
12/15/2009 | Healthcare
Window closing for healthcare reform: Biden
Washington Post
If the U.S. Congress fails to agree on a healthcare bill soon, the opportunity for a sweeping overhaul of the $2.5 trillion system will be lost for a generation, Vice President Joe Biden warned on Tuesday. Biden was speaking just hours before Democratic lawmakers were to meet at the White House with President Barack Obama, who is pressing them to reach agreement and pass a bill on his signature domestic policy issue.