Health Care

Position: OPPOSED TO EMPLOYER MANDATES Status: FEDERAL BILL INTRODUCED, STATE BILLS INTRODUCED

The NFA is opposed to including employer mandates or any other provisions which would cause significant financial burden on franchisees.

Please see the action alert section of NFA Votes to write a letter to your Member of Congress and tell them to support small business by excluding employer mandates.

News

Mar 9, 2010 Health care costs open $1.7 billion hole in Texas budget (The Dallas Morning News) David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, asked agencies to offer ideas for trims.    more...  
Mar 9, 2010 Obama back on the campaign trail, this time for health care (USA Today) This time, the goal is not the White House, but a final health care bill. We were sent there to solve the big challenges." As with any campaign, average Americans speak at Obama's rallies to discuss their health care problems. The health care campaign also has its share of political intrigue.    more...  
Mar 9, 2010 Poverty is viewed as regional health issue (Akron Beacon Journal) Summit County fared better in this category, ranking 24th. Public health officials need to learn a way to share their messages in a positive manner, rather than telling people "don't do this, don't eat this," said Donna Skoda, director of planning The national "Got Milk?" campaign to promote...    more...  
Mar 9, 2010 For Democrats, it's make-or-break time (The Philadelphia Inquirer) But midterm elections are typically dominated by the most partisan voters. Failing now on health reform _ when they have the votes for passage and the parliamentary route for passage _ would likely put the kibosh on Democratic turnout. After they whiffed on Clinton health reform (which never even...    more...  
Mar 9, 2010 Gop Sharpens Midterm Attack Line (Politico) Arlen Specter signed Bennet’s letter last month. Charlie Melancon and Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan are either distancing themselves from the legislation or attempting to remain silent.Melancon, who is challenging Sen. Carnahan, who is looking to pick up retiring Sen.    more...  
Mar 9, 2010 Letters: With slim hope for deal, tactic needed to pass health bill (USA Today) With slim hope for deal, tactic needed to pass health bill Reggie Marselus - Lenexa, Kan. The actions of Democrats in Congress concerning health care reform point to the inherent dangers of the unlimited powers of a majority. About 70% of U.S. citizens have an unfavorable opinion of this health...    more...  
Mar 8, 2010 State Insurance Experts See Flaw in Obama's Plan to Curb Health Premiums (New York Times) State officials worry that they would be left to police the solvency of health insurance companies while federal officials pressured insurers to reduce premiums, as Mr. Sara Rosenbaum, a professor of health law and policy at George Washington University, said federal regulation of insurance rates...    more...  
Mar 8, 2010 Obama launches attack on insurance companies (Washington Post) Broad majorities of insured people say they are satisfied with their coverage, according to Washington Post-ABC News polls. Only one in eight say insurance would improve if the health-care system were changed.But that relative satisfaction coexists with anxiety. She said she favors nationwide...    more...  
Mar 8, 2010 Obama launches attack on health insurance companies (Washington Post) Broad majorities of insured people say they are satisfied with their coverage, according to Washington Post-ABC News polls. Only one in eight say insurance would improve if the health-care system were changed.But that relative satisfaction coexists with anxiety. She said she favors nationwide...    more...  
Mar 8, 2010 Health reform bills are online but compromise isn't (The Salt Lake Tribune) We are told it will not apply to illegal immigrants. What language is in the bill to keep Congress from making all current illegal immigrants now legal and therefore eligible for health care? Also, some states are writing bills opting out of the health care bill.    more...  
Mar 8, 2010 Obama takes hard-sell health pitch to Pa. (USA Today) Obama is trying to win over centrist Democrats, including at least five here in Pennsylvania."It's hard for some members of Congress to make this vote. There's no doubt about that," Obama said. Louis to sell his plan, which would step up insurance regulation and extend coverage to 31 million people.    more...  
Mar 8, 2010 Obama (The Philadelphia Inquirer) Pennsylvania is also a swing state, and Montgomery County is home to many independent voters who have been trending Democratic in recent national elections. But the latest polls suggest many independents are skeptical of a health-care overhaul. In his speech Obama railed against the greed of...    more...  
Mar 8, 2010 Obama: Greedy health insurers show need for reform (The Philadelphia Inquirer) Louis, in the swing state of Missouri, to continue pressing his case. Pennsylvania is also a swing state, and Montgomery County is home to many independent voters who have been trending Democratic in recent national elections. But the latest polls suggest many independents are skeptical of a...    more...  
Mar 8, 2010 Fat American children (Los Angeles Times) In Alaska, poor children were only 1.2 times more likely to be overweight or obese than better-off children. It means adding the physical health burden of obesity to the already existing burdens of poverty and discrimination. How might public health, health insurance and school programs play a role?    more...  
Mar 8, 2010 Health insurance rate hikes are par for the course (Los Angeles Times) President Obama has proposed expanding federal oversight of insurance premium increases as part of his plans to reform healthcare. In some states, rate increases must receive prior approval from the insurance commission before going into effect. When insurers raise rates, they'll usually offer...    more...  
Mar 8, 2010 EDITORIAL (Albuquerque Journal) Mar. 8, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Here's a tip to all the conspiracy theorists -- from talk-radio callers to Lt. It doesn't have shareholders, and it can't make a profit. The premiums it collects must be used to pay the medical bills for its insureds and to...    more...  
Mar 8, 2010 Fiery Obama delivers a final pitch for health care reform (The Morning Call) A man in the crowd took the opportunity during a pause in Obama's speech to ask about abortion, screaming about protecting unborn babies. Obama did not respond. The health care speech itself broke no new ground. Specter and Bob Casey both flew with the president.    more...  
Mar 8, 2010 Women pay more, face hurdles finding insurance (The Salt Lake Tribune) The Salt Lake City lawyer's older husband, though, was approved. Insurers told Leane Jensen she had three strikes against her. National women's health advocates call it gender discrimination. In Utah, the practice has drawn scant attention. In addition to maternity costs, women are more likely...    more...  
Mar 8, 2010 Hatch criticism riles left (The Salt Lake Tribune) Consider this paragraph from his Post op-ed: "This use of reconciliation to jam through this legislation, against the will of the American people, would be unprecedented in scope. Under normal circumstances, a conference committee would meld them into one and both bodies would take a final vote.    more...  
Mar 8, 2010 Durbin to insurance companies (Chicago Tribune) Can't do it." David Kogan owns DKP Image + Media in the West Loop. He said health insurance rates for three employees went up from $926 a month in 2005 to $2,516 in 2008. In 2009, the business downgraded to two employees: himself and his son.    more...  
Mar 8, 2010 Obama Brings Health Pitch To Pa. (Politico) He appealed to Democrats who are undecided by shaming the politics at play, even making a rare reference to President Bill Clinton’s failure to get health care reform. The issue is not politics.”The president was harsh in his assessment of insurance companies. The event was partially standing...    more...  
Mar 8, 2010 A pivotal week begins (Washington Post) Every year, they drop more people's coverage when they're sick and need it most. How many more Americans have to lose their health insurance?" Obama said. "How many more businesses have to drop coverage?    more...  
Mar 8, 2010 Obama hits private health insurers (CNN) The White House has called for sweeping health care legislation to be on the president's desk at the end of March before the congressional Easter vacation. Two Democratic leadership aides told CNN last week that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, is aiming to have the House of...    more...  
Mar 8, 2010 Obama on health care offensive (CNN) Congress "owes the American people a final up or down vote on health care. The White House has called for sweeping health care legislation to be on the president's desk at the end of March before the congressional Easter vacation. Two Democratic leadership aides told CNN last week that House...    more...  
Mar 8, 2010 Obama on health care: 'If not now, when?' (USA Today) Robert Zirkelbach, a spokesman for America's Health Insurance Plans, attributed rising health care bills to the costs of medical care, which are pushing up insurance premiums. He added that the insurance industry supports efforts to guarantee coverage for consumers with pre-existing conditions,...    more...  
Mar 8, 2010 Obama and health care: Still focused on insurance companies (USA Today) Another day, another White House blast at insurance companies. Every year, they raise premiums higher and higher. When is the right time for health insurance reform?    more...  
Mar 8, 2010 Obama Takes Reform On The Road (Politico) People respond to that.”Obama travels to suburban Philadelphia Monday and to the St. Only one Democrat, Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, has said she would oppose the cleanup bill, because she disagrees with the use of reconciliation.    more...  
Mar 8, 2010 The Caucus: Sure-Fire Crowd Pleaser: Reining in Wall Street (New York Times) That explains why Senate Republicans, after throwing up a wall of opposition on health care, continue negotiating with their Democratic counterparts on financial regulation. “The anger is much greater at the financial industry than it is at the health care industry,” said Steve Hildebrand, a...    more...  
Mar 8, 2010 Va. health bill could foil Obama proposal (The Boston Globe) We said people have to take responsibility for getting insurance, if they can afford it, or paying their own way. No more free-riders.''That prompted the Democratic National Committee to send out a press release saying that Romney supports a federal mandate. But Romney went on to say that...    more...  
Mar 7, 2010 Arkansas's Senator in Middle, Hit on All Sides (New York Times) Lincoln told supporters in Little Rock last week. Lincoln’s father, said he had voted for Mrs. Still, a letter from MoveOn called Mrs.    more...  
Mar 7, 2010 How would health care overhaul help young people? (USA Today) Healthy young adults currently pay far less than older consumers, but both the House and Senate bills limit how much more insurers could charge older people. After cutting his thumb on a broken glass while washing dishes, Ouellette ended up with eight stitches — and a bill for several hundred...    more...  
Mar 7, 2010 Legislature cut diaper ration after all, but few will feel it (Las Vegas Review-Journal) Six is more than enough for most people." While the diaper allocation was cut, Leslie said other items on the "ugly list" were restored.    more...  
Mar 7, 2010 Charter school pushes health sciences program (The Buffalo News) Sheridan Parkside Community Center in the Town of Tonawanda -- will include health care science, health care communications and medical psychology and ethics for health care professionals. Local employers will provide internships and mentors for students in their junior and senior years. The...    more...  
Mar 7, 2010 Medicine as an economic engine (The Buffalo News) One is to provide specialty care, as at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, that attracts patients from other communities.    more...  
Mar 7, 2010 EDITORIAL (The Philadelphia Inquirer) But those countries spend only 63 cents for every dollar we shell out for health care. Why fix the brakes now? Because if we don't, employer-based annual health-care costs will triple to more than $28,000 within 10 years. Getting health-care reform right will take time and revisions, too.    more...  
Mar 7, 2010 A system that hurts us all (The Boston Globe) So last year it put a gun to our head, telling the unions, ``Give us $20 million or we'll close the paper.''It might have been a bluff. General, said his staff bent over backward to help Liz Beebe. She'll never have full use of her finger because, from coast to coast, we have reduced access to...    more...  
Mar 7, 2010 Not all church leaders oppose coverage for the unmarried (El Paso Times) Deborah Clugy-Soto, pastor of Desert View United Church of Christ, said she thought the issue would have blown over if the city had merely given benefits to unmarried heterosexual partners of city employees. Ed Roden-Lucero, pastor of San Juan Diego Catholic Church, urged compassion and took a...    more...  
Mar 6, 2010 Obama Wields Analysis of Insurers in Health Battle (New York Times) Lewis said beneficiaries were feeling the brunt of the changes to existing policies. Asked by Goldman analysts about the effort to pass major health care legislation, Mr. Lewis said many employers experiencing increases in their insurance costs were nonetheless apprehensive about the...    more...  
Mar 2, 2010 Budget squeeze hits public health (Star Tribune) But these, too, have been slipping in recent years. Local public health officials said funding for public health has been eroding for years, and they are feeling the pain. The county also has stopped health screenings for new refugees, relying instead on another community agency to do the work....    more...  
Mar 2, 2010 Pa., N.J. fare poorly in public-health spending (The Philadelphia Inquirer) Since then, many states have slashed budgets in response to lower tax revenues in the recession. Gov. Rendell's health department budget was down 12 percent for the current fiscal year, with a smaller cut proposed for the year that begins July 1, according to numbers from Harrisburg. New...    more...  
Mar 1, 2010 Pa. and N.J. among lowest in federal health spending (The Philadelphia Inquirer) Pennsylvania got $14.86 per capita, ranking it 47th of the 50 states. Delaware got $27.26, No. 8. State treasuries nationwide budgeted a median of $28.92 per capita for health in fiscal year 2009, the report said. New Jersey's budget for the Department of Health and Senior Services was slashed...    more...  
Mar 1, 2010 Showdown ahead on health care? (CNN) On the political talk shows Sunday, Democratic and GOP leaders fought over budget reconciliation, the parliamentary procedure that could allow a vote in the Senate and circumvent a GOP filibuster. That package would go before the Senate under reconciliation rules. The White House has noted that...    more...  
Mar 1, 2010 Pa. and N.J. rank low in spending on public health (The Philadelphia Inquirer) Pennsylvania got $14.86 per capita (a total of $187,352,742), ranking it 47th of the 50 states. Delaware got $27.26 ($24,130,888), No. 8. State treasuries nationwide budgeted a median of $28.92 per capita for health in fiscal year 2009, the report said. New Jersey's budget for the Department of...    more...  
Mar 1, 2010 Santa Clara County group unveils health care plan for uninsured workers (San Jose Mercury News) Money is there for the taking." Healthy Workers "is the decent, humane thing to do," he said. "I think they're doing the right thing. The cost to the worker will be $75 a month; for the employer, the cost will be $150 a month per employee. The community's share is in the form of a discounted...    more...  
Mar 1, 2010 Reconciliation showdown ahead on health care? (CNN) On the political talk shows Sunday, Democratic and GOP leaders fought over budget reconciliation, the parliamentary procedure that could allow a vote in the Senate and circumvent a GOP filibuster. That package would go before the Senate under reconciliation rules. By using reconciliation, only a...    more...  
Mar 1, 2010 Dan Balz's Sunday Take: The political divide over the health-care debate (Washington Post) Dan BalzIn the aftermath of President Obama's White House health-care summit, it's clear that both sides are certain they are right on substance. Democrats and Republicans believe that, in the end, they can win the political argument. If Congress passes legislation, Obama then must lead the...    more...  
Mar 1, 2010 Democrats have a health-care plan, but do they have the votes? (Washington Post) With Abercrombie's resignation taking effect today, USA Today says, "With each passing day it gets more difficult for the Democrats to pass health care. Jon Kyl , the Senate's No. 2 Republican, said Sunday. In 2006, Schumer helped persuade several Democrats to vote for Sen.    more...  
Mar 1, 2010 Legislature opens session Tuesday looking at budget shortfall (Tampa Tribune) Federal health care legislation, in which the provision also appears, is stalled. The gaming compact that Crist signed with the Seminoles last year deviates from the terms the Legislature approved. At the time, House lawmakers warned they would not tolerate substantive changes to those terms,...    more...  
Mar 1, 2010 Government experience in hand, Mike Leavitt is open for business (The Salt Lake Tribune) That conversation turned into a job offer and soon Acheson was working as a managing director at Leavitt Partners.    more...  
Mar 1, 2010 Letters: Dentists can treat children at schools (USA Today) A recent national census of these centers found that a majority provide oral health education (84%) and dental screenings (57%) to students. We need policies that work to help children and adolescents get access to dental care so that they are healthy and ready to learn. School-based health...    more...  
Mar 1, 2010 Independents aim for top care to compete with giants (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) The hospital, which opened in 1954, has 329 beds and 525 doctors. The hospital, open since 1898, has 232 beds, 231 doctors and a staff of 1,700. Ohio Valley opened in 1906 and has 117 beds.    more...  
Mar 1, 2010 H1N1 vaccine was unevenly distributed across L.A. County, figures show (Los Angeles Times) Those doses were used to mount temporary vaccination clinics in underserved areas. Clinic staff vaccinated about 204,000 people, figures show. She conceded that in the South area, a lack of private providers hampered vaccine distribution.    more...  
Feb 28, 2010 Dems Dig In For Last Stand (Politico) In the 2001 tax cut debate, Democrats, including Sen. Cantor and Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) said Republicans never resorted to it to overhaul a major portion of the economy. Democrats already passed the comprehensive reform bill through the House and the Senate.    more...  
Feb 28, 2010 Both Sides Stand Their Ground on Health Care (New York Times) Alexander said of the Democratic health care plan. The legislation would revise the Senate bill to reflect compromises between House and Senate Democrats and suggestions by Mr. Obama would strip out the House bill’s abortion restrictions in favor of Senate language that many of them consider...    more...  
Feb 28, 2010 The Cost of Doing Nothing on Health Care (New York Times) Those higher costs will translate into higher premiums, which will mean fewer individuals and businesses will be able to afford insurance coverage. Spending so much on health care is “really a waste of people’s money,” Mr. But few policy analysts think Congress can afford to do absolutely...    more...  
Feb 28, 2010 Sunday's best: Obama allies, foes debate reconciliation (USA Today) Republicans and Democrat hit the Sunday talk shows today to debate whether a complex congressional process called "reconciliation" should be used to consider a major overhaul of the U.S. health care system. Reconciliation is normally used for "taxing and spending and reducing deficits," said Sen....    more...  
Feb 28, 2010 White House: Simple up or down vote on health care (USA Today) Republican lawmaker unanimously oppose the health care proposals, and many GOP strategists believe voters will turn against Democrats in the November elections. The White House is redoubling efforts to remind voters that the Senate passed an Obama-backed health care bill in December with 60...    more...  
Feb 28, 2010 Wary Centrists Posing Challenge in Health Care Vote (New York Times) Obama unveiled before his bipartisan health forum last week. Of the 39 Democrats who voted against the House measure, 31, including Mr. Kratovil, he favors a smaller, less ambitious bill.    more...  
Feb 28, 2010 Pelosi: Democrats will keep majority in House (Washington Post) Menendez said reconciliation has been supported by Republicans before, including for sweeping reform bills such as the Bush administration tax cuts and welfare reform.Rep. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said that proof that Democrats should not use reconciliation came from Sen. Conrad pointed out that...    more...  
Feb 28, 2010 Drugmakers put doctors on marketing payrolls (The Buffalo News) Romanth Waghmarae, an anesthesiologist who specializes in pain management, who received $134,700 from Cephalon in 2009, according to the manufacturer. Click here to read more about the Physician Payments Sunshine Act. The University at Buffalo has also released a new conflict-of-interest policy...    more...  
Feb 28, 2010 The Hartford Courant, Conn., Jim Shea column (The Hartford Courant) I liked the Bill Gates line, but you didn't make me care about George Washington's teeth. Simon: Too whiny, too preachy, too bleeding-heart liberal. Do rich people, our base, want health care reform? Do the American people, the real ones, want a different health care system?    more...  
Feb 28, 2010 OPINION (Detroit Free Press) That doesn't mean that problems that demand complex solutions can simply be ignored. So let the wonks be wonks. It's what we elected them to do, and they might just make health care better. BRIAN DICKERSON is deputy editorial page editor.    more...  
Feb 28, 2010 The Charlotte Observer, N.C., Ron Stodghill column (The Charlotte Observer) You get a 23 percent unemployment rate, more than twice the national average. But here in Chester, where both unemployment and diabetes seem to be running high in families, it's painfully clear that the nation's health care delivery system, in its current form, isn't working. The area's local...    more...  
Feb 28, 2010 Future of health care alive and well in Staples (Star Tribune) Having Niki is different," Ford said last week as he waited to see Dr. All 11 primary care doctors reserve several slots a day for medical home patients who need immediate care. "We were getting frustrated. We didn't seem to have enough time for the patients who needed us most," said Dr.    more...  
Feb 28, 2010 Operation: Health care (The Boston Globe) Had there been no free clinic, and his daughter not insisted he come that day, he may have died.The cost of reform is not the question. These therapies will be best in class, where cost is subordinate to efficacy and benefit. They are not the therapies that managed care mandates.    more...  
Feb 28, 2010 Health care jobs growing (Richmond Times-Dispatch) It's a balance. . . . Programs are expensive and equipment-intensive and time-intensive. Usually the student-to-faculty ratio is smaller in health-care programs.    more...  
Feb 28, 2010 Runaway health costs are rocking municipal budgets (The Boston Globe) In addition to her pension, Debski, at 42, walked away with city-subsidized health care insurance for life. Some communities do not force retirees onto Medicare at age 65. And in Brockton, we have more than 700 retirees on the voting rolls.''Other municipal retirees don't sign up for Medicare...    more...  
Feb 28, 2010 Highmark's vision, dental subsidiaries show steady growth (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) You must educate the patient to know what they're buying." Membership roles and revenue generated by Davis and United Concordia have grown substantially during the past five years, data show. Between 2005 and 2009, the number of members covered by the Davis Vision benefits plan jumped from 31...    more...  
Feb 28, 2010 Region's hospitals expand site footprints, services (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) Jefferson Regional purchased the building two years ago from the former Mercy Hospital system, which UPMC acquired. A new diagnostics center next to the pavilion will open this summer. An addition to Butler Memorial Hospital will provide 12 operating rooms and an patient area. Indiana Regional...    more...  
Feb 27, 2010 EDITORIAL (San Jose Mercury News) It's designed for small businesses that employ from two to 50 workers. Health care is the No. 1 issue for California's small business owners because they want to provide insurance for their workers but often can't because of the skyrocketing cost. Given the state of the economy today, the number...    more...  
Feb 27, 2010 Chesapeake seeks federal aid for health clinic (The Virginian-Pilot) The Chesapeake Health Department runs that clinic. The new center would be run by a board of community members, more than half of whom are served by the facility. It would continue to receive city funding, as well as the federal money. Additionally, President Barack Obama's 2011 budget includes...    more...  
Feb 27, 2010 Santa Clara County health chief out of a job (San Jose Mercury News) Jeffrey Smith confirmed that Kim Roberts is no longer chief executive of the $1.2 billion Santa Clara Valley (OTCBB:SCVE) Health and Hospital System, a position she'd held since 2007. Roberts, who reported to Smith, did not respond to requests for comment. Meanwhile, doctors at the county...    more...  
Feb 27, 2010 617-doctor affiliate to join OSU system, streamline care (The Columbus Dispatch) Suzanne Hoholik Feb. 27, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Ohio State University created a private physician practice eight years ago. Mary Jo Welker, a family doctor and one of the 617 physicians. "Our practices are already owned by the university.    more...  
Feb 27, 2010 At health-care summit, Obama tells Republicans he's eager to move ahead (Washington Post) Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) complained as the GOP delegation left the White House that Democrats and Obama had consumed the vast majority of the airtime. John McCain (Ariz.), the 2008 GOP presidential nominee, said to Obama. "In fact, eight times you said that negotiations on health-care reform would be...    more...  
Feb 27, 2010 '09 a mixed bag for insurers (The Boston Globe) Blue Cross Blue Shield also said it lost members because of mounting layoffs. Tufts reported net income of $21 million a year earlier. Compensation rose to $787,033 for chief executive Eric H. Schultz, from $714,280 a year ago.    more...  
Feb 26, 2010 Pelosi eyes shortcut for health care (CNN) House Democrats would probably require an ironclad commitment from Senate Democrats and the president before agreeing to pass the changes first. Democratic sources say they still aren't completely sure there would be a 51-vote simple majority in the Senate to finalize health care with the...    more...  
Feb 26, 2010 Democrats to Press Health Bill With Simple Majority (New York Times) The legislation would revise the Senate health bill to reflect compromises between House and Senate Democrats and suggestions by Mr. Republicans adamantly oppose the health care bill, as well as the use of any parliamentary shortcuts.The White House press secretary, Robert Gibbs, said Friday that...    more...  
Feb 26, 2010 Parties convene, clash at Obama's health summit (The Washington Times) The election is over." Tempers flared earlier this week when Mr. Democrats have accused Republicans of being obstructionists and only interested in opposing them for political purposes. Lamar Alexander, Senate GOP Conference chairman, said Republicans want Mr.    more...  
Feb 26, 2010 Use States As Health Care Reform Labs (Politico) This would allow individuals to purchase their own portable health insurance. Medicaid should give states latitude in designing coverage mechanisms. Some states might expand Medicaid; others could offer vouchers.    more...  
Feb 26, 2010 New Ken health fair vendors offer seniors services, information (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) The lure was not food however, but the Health and Wellness Fair sponsored by state Rep.    more...  
Feb 26, 2010 San Jose Mercury News, Calif., Patty Fisher column: Fisher (San Jose Mercury News) But I can see why Anthem is looking for friends. Health insurance companies have not had a good week. Our profits aren't nearly as obscene as the drug companies' profits.    more...  
Feb 26, 2010 With compromise unlikely, Dems eye shortcut for health care (CNN) House Democrats would probably require an ironclad commitment from Senate Democrats and the president before agreeing to pass the changes first. The one Republican who voted for the House bill, Rep. Another major obstacle in passing the Senate's health bill in the House and getting it to the...    more...  
Feb 26, 2010 Ryan scores points at TV health summit (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) And a Washington Post columnist even declared the Janesville Republican a "winner" after the 7 1/2 -hour policy session. Ryan's own verdict: "I felt like it was constructive. The Democrats haven't been talking to us all year.    more...  
Feb 26, 2010 EDITORIAL (Star Tribune) Consumers are also continuously required to dig deeper for higher copays and deductibles. The Senate/White House plan melds key elements of Republican Mitt Romney's Massachusetts reforms and changes proposed by Republicans such as former Minnesota Sen. David Durenberger as an alternative to the...    more...  
Feb 26, 2010 Health care reform event Saturday (Chattanooga Times/Free Press) Scholarships are available for those who can't afford to pay.    more...  
Feb 26, 2010 After the summit, health endgame begins (Washington Post) There is broad agreement, though, that nothing fundamental changed about the trajectory of health-care reform. And on health-care reform, Obama believes that his arguments are right. Charles Rangel," AP writes. "The House ethics committee accused Rangel on Thursday of accepting corporate money...    more...  
Feb 26, 2010 Nelson Irks Feinstein On Rate Hikes (Politico) BluePAC, which is the fundraising arm of the insurance giant, maxed out its donations to Nelson’s leadership PAC last September, giving his committee $5,000 in donations. Feinstein opposes a particular premium increase, the California state insurance commissioner should address that concern,”...    more...  
Feb 26, 2010 Alter health care piecemeal, state delegation says (Arkansas Democrat Gazette) While every Republican but one voted against the overall measure, the separate antitrust bill passed with broad bipartisan backing - 406-19. John Boozman, a Republican from Rogers, echoed Republican leaders at the White House summit who called for ditching the Democrats’ health-care bills.    more...  
Feb 26, 2010 Study: Provider clout inflating health costs (Arkansas Democrat Gazette) Coakley, the Democrat defeated by Republican Scott Brown in the U.S. Senate election last month to fill the late-Sen. Edward Kennedy’s seat.In California, in the late 1990s, hospital systems began to grow and physicians formed medical groups in response to the development of managed-care...    more...  
Feb 26, 2010 Health summit is failure as Bam vows to move forward (New York Daily News) Obama asked Republicans to 'do a little soul-searching' after a seven-hour meeting on health-care reform.Take our PollObama's health care sit-downDo you think this summit will get us closer to health care reform?20100225_obamas_health_care_sitdown Obama's health care sit-down Do you think this...    more...  
Feb 26, 2010 Jerry Brown, state Assembly turn up the heat on California's health insurers (The Sacramento Bee) California's health insurers intensified Thursday with both Attorney General Jerry Brown and the state Assembly demanding more financial information from the industry. Brown issued subpoenas to the state's seven largest health insurance companies: Aetna (NYSE:AET) Health, Anthem Blue Cross,...    more...  
Feb 26, 2010 The Early Word: Health Care Meeting (New York Times) Obama’s meeting with House Republicans in Baltimore last month. Charlie Crist, of leaking the statements from a Republican Party American Express card to show Mr. Rubio reimbursed the party for those expenses.Meanwhile, Mr.    more...  
Feb 26, 2010 At health-care summit, Obama tells Republicans he's eager to move ahead (Washington Post) Eric Cantor (Va.), the No. 2 House Republican. Senior congressional aides said Democratic leaders will assess the mood next week, after House and Senate lawmakers spend the weekend at home hearing from constituents. Under a plan being discussed by senior Democratic lawmakers, the House would...    more...  
Feb 26, 2010 Health care summit underscores divisions (The Boston Globe) If insurers are prohibited from discriminating against people with preexisting conditions, everyone must be required to obtain insurance. Otherwise, some people would buy coverage only when they're sick. At one point McConnell complained that Democrats had spoken almost twice as long as...    more...  
Feb 26, 2010 Sen. Ron Wyden waits a long time to call for bold action on health care (The Oregonian) President, what we have been saying for a long time is, let's scrap the bill. Democrats seek a kind of broad remake; Republicans favor much more modest changes. "We just can't afford this.    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 California subpoenas big health insurers' financial records (Los Angeles Times) It also asked the insurers to provide detailed information about how they review claims.    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 Safety net dental practice in Akron relocates (Akron Beacon Journal) Herman said after his first appointment: 'They're very nice.    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 California demands financial information from 7 health insurance companies (The Sacramento Bee) Jim Sanders SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 25, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune News Service delivered by Newstex) -- Scrutiny of California's health insurers intensified Thursday with both state Attorney General Jerry Brown and the state Assembly demanding more financial information from the industry.Brown...    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 At summit, parties disagree on what's next for health bill (USA Today) It became a battle of the local anecdote: Democratic Sen. Harry Reid talked about the plight of a restaurant owner in his home state of Nevada; Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin read a letter from a farmer in his home state of Iowa; GOP Sen.    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 Chicago Tribune John Kass column (Chicago Tribune) They were foolish to get trapped in his so-called summit on national health care. As an acolyte of the Chicago Democratic machine, he's seen muscle at work in Daleyland. After the Hopium smokers nod off to pleasant dreams, what counts is who has the muscle.    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 Could R.I. reform health care on its own? (The Providence Journal) Could Rhode Island solve the problem on its own? Years before the federal Children's Health Insurance Program, Rhode Island expanded and improved coverage for poor families with its RIte Care program. People, Fine says, don't understand the value of primary care. Fine thinks that Rhode Island...    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 Calif. attorney general subpoenas insurers' records (Los Angeles Times) President Obama is seeking greater federal authority over insurance-premium increases as part of his national health care overhaul.The investigation into the denial of claims began in September.    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 Health care summit: Transcripts from every speaker (Washington Post) Andrews on cutting health-care costs | Rep. McCain, President Obama on medical malpractice reform | Sen. Roskam on Medicaid | President Obama on Medicaid | Sen.    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 Obama spars with McCain, Cantor at health summit (USA Today) Here's our take on the insurance section of the health summit. Eric Cantor, the House Republican whip, displays a copy of the massive Senate health care bill, and cites polls reflecting public opposition. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., said women are particularly vulnerable to the problems in the...    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 Obama and Republicans debate how to insure at-risk consumers (USA Today) We're back at the health summit, still talking about insurance reform. Republicans propose creation of special high-risk insurance pools. One idea: A publicly funded insurance option, though Rockefeller notes that probably won't happen.    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 How does Washington decide what insurance is? (Washington Post) When they passed the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit into law, they defined what a plan would have to do to qualify for the program. If an insurer wants to propose an innovative product legislators never dreamed of, the secretary can give them the go-ahead. Why not just let insurers add...    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 Obama on health care: An issue 'affecting everybody' (USA Today) Obama and Alexander also clashed over a Congressional Budget Office analysis over whether a Senate health care bill. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Cal., also spoke, stressing the economic impact of rising health care costs. In his opening address to the summit, Obama connected health care...    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 Health Care Summit: Live Analysis (Washington Post) Paul Volpe10:57 a.m. | Harry Reid just mentioned that the House's bill would reduce the deficit by $132 billion over the first 10 years. Analysts have pointed out that many reform ideas don't really work on their own; they have to be passed altogether in order to make the system work. For what...    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 'Promotoras' help bring healing to Kansas City's migrant community (The Kansas City Star) The boy fed her, bathed her and helped her to the bathroom. Another ran out to them in the street: Did they know of a psychological program? Recently an elderly woman from a Mexican pueblo asked Arias, "What is a mammogram?" Many new immigrants also do not associate obesity with illness, the...    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 Cbc Calls For More Equality In Reform (Politico) ...health care summit, the Congressional Black Caucus is appealing for tougher efforts to reduce racial disparities in the health system.“We are writing today to respectfully, but firmly urge you to ensure that the final health care reform proposal integrates robust provisions to ensure that...    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 OPINION (The Kansas City Star) Former City Manager Wayne Cauthen decided to use more of the old health levy to operate the Health Department, taking money away from Truman and the health centers. Sneaky, but it worked. That tax increase expires in four years. Maybe you've noticed: Taxes usually don't die around here....    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 Lines drawn ahead of bipartisan health care summit (CNN) The summit will take place across the street from the White House in the Garden Room at Blair House. Spokesman John Gentzel said the Maine senator turned down a White House invitation to attend because she understood that under the summit's rules Democratic and Republican leaders would select...    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 What To Watch For At The Summit (Politico) So Democrats are exceedingly confident that their man will own the room. After they rejected his request to invite a governor, Boehner asked for another invitee: What about Rep. Jim Matheson, a Utah Democrat who voted against the first House bill.Asked if he expects anyone back home to watch,...    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 Date Night in the Senate: A Primer on Budget Reconciliation (New York Times) The Contract for America, most of the stuff in the Contract for America was done with reconciliation. Gregg asked. “I don’t think so.”Still, passing a reconciliation measure will not be a cakewalk for Senate Democrats. A reconciliation measure would deal with five years of fiscal policy,...    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 Chronic Disease Straining Medicare Budgets (New York Times) Inpatient hospital care has been the big loser. Prior to 1997, most of the growth in spending on heart disease, for example, was due to growth in inpatient services, with smaller increases for physician care and prescription drug use. About a quarter of all Medicare beneficiaries are in Medicare...    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 Republicans: Hey, Where's Stupak? (New York Times) Bart Stupak (D-MI) that would prohibit federal funding of abortion. None committed to working to ensure that the House position is preserved in a final health care bill. Emanuel, posing a number of questions about the proposed February 25 summit.    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 EDITORIAL: Action, not words (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) Today President Barack Obama hopes to be that irresistible force when he meets with Republicans in a unique and politically charged health care summit. Good luck, Mr. President. So far his efforts and those of fellow Democrats have been resisted by the immovable force of united Republican...    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 What today's health-care summit can accomplish (Washington Post) The way to prevent this to mandate that everyone buy health insurance. No mandate, no effective insurance reforms.“These health bills bust the budget. Obama’s proposal is expensive because health insurance is expensive and insuring an additional 31 million people will cost a lot of money.    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 Obama's health care summit: What to watch for (Washington Post) How about the Fix and the Post's Ezra Klein previewing the big event? The House views the Senate as slow-moving and change-averse; the Senate looks at the House as you would a younger (and much less mature) brother. But, the White House used the coverage of the unveiling to bludgeon Republicans...    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 Anthem Blue Cross parent company comes under fire in Congress (San Jose Mercury News) Among the destinations were a Four Seasons Resort in San Diego and a resort in Manele Bay, Hawaii. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. Democrats said steep rate hikes in California and other states demonstrate the need for sweeping health care reform. Obama says his plans would keep premiums in check by...    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 EDITORIAL (The Salt Lake Tribune) Trouble is, that Utah Health Insurance Exchange, as the market is called, hasn't worked very well. Dave Clark, the godfather of Utah health care reform, and other Utah lawmakers are determined to prove that it can be done. Clark argues, to provide another mechanism to adjust risk.    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 Doctors group to focus on 1 hospital (The Boston Globe) Instead, the state would pay groups of providers a per-patient annual fee to cover all of a patient's medical care. Adopting such a system of ``global payments'' is expected to push primary care doctors, specialists, and hospitals to form tight, efficient networks in which they are in constant...    more...  
Feb 25, 2010 Democrats cite health insurer's spending on execs (Arkansas Democrat Gazette) Bart Stupak, D-Mich., who chairs the oversight subcommittee holding the hearing, cited company documents saying the company was seeking a 7 percent profit in California for this year. Anthem in Maine is requesting that state regulators approve a 23 percent rise. Michigan’s Blue Cross Blue...    more...  
Feb 24, 2010 Bickering continues as health care summit nears (CNN) But she declined to give any specifics about how Democrats will proceed on health care reform. She also sidestepped questions about Democrats' plans to use a controversial parliamentary shortcut to bypass GOP opposition and pass a health care bill. "We're talking about substance. But Senate...    more...  
Feb 24, 2010 Lawmakers accuse WellPoint, parent company of Anthem Blue Cross, of profiteering (Los Angeles Times) Insurance-industry margins are dwarfed by the margins of others in healthcare." Braly added: "The elephant in the room is the growth of healthcare spending.    more...  
Feb 24, 2010 Anthem Blue Cross executives grilled at state Capitol (The Sacramento Bee) Jones is seeking to become the state's next insurance commissioner. On Monday, Poizner accused Anthem Blue Cross of more than 700 claims-handling violations during the past three years.    more...  
Feb 24, 2010 WellPoint draws ire of Congress at hearing (San Jose Mercury News) Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.Democrats said steep rate hikes in California and other states demonstrate the need for sweeping health care reform. Obama says his plans would keep premiums in check by bringing most Americans into the market _ healthy and ill _ with a mandate to buy insurance. That...    more...  
Feb 24, 2010 At hearing, Democrats say WellPoint has showered executives with perks (Los Angeles Times) You're raising your rates far above what is necessary. She also noted that California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner never objected to the premium increases after WellPoint filed them filed Nov. 7 until the issue surfaced in the Los Angeles Times. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., also demanded an...    more...  
Feb 24, 2010 House passes a piece of health care (USA Today) House Democrats included the proposal in their now-stalled $1 trillion health care bill. Big health insurance companies could conspire with each other to fix prices, divide territories and never be punished for it. Some supporters have suggested the health care bill should be broken apart and...    more...  
Feb 24, 2010 Insurer blames health costs for California rate hikes (Los Angeles Times) In prepared testimony for a House investigative subcommittee, Angela Braly, president of WellPoint Inc., blamed the increases on the growing price tags for hospital care and pharmaceuticals. Braly said the company lost $10 million on individually insured Californians last year. Braly said the...    more...  
Feb 24, 2010 Obama, like predecessors, has political headaches over health care (USA Today) But predecessors have wrought major changes to the health care system, from Lyndon Johnson and Medicare to George W. Bush and the prescription drug bill. It fell to Harry Truman to propose a national health care plan in 1945 as part of his Fair Deal legislative program. President John F. Kennedy...    more...  
Feb 24, 2010 St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Bill McClellan column: Shift in health costs could power hiring (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) He worked at a repair shop. They started the transmission business in her garage. Workers' compensation was another concern. Olsson pulled out a spreadsheet. Couldn't the shop absorb another $250 or $300? Olsson shrugged.    more...  
Feb 24, 2010 Doctors Willing To Make A House Call (Politico) Tim MurphyIs there a doctor in the House? Include other health care professionals, such as nurses and pharmacists, and there are even more. But not one member of Congress with a background in health care will be present.When the administration and Congress meet on judicial reform, surely there...    more...  
Feb 24, 2010 Obama's Task: One Tune, Five Crowds (Politico) He’ll be pitching Beltway graybeards obsessed, as always, with bipartisanship. Bob Kerrey of Nebraska. “The American people are obviously one big piece of his audience, especially independent voters who are moving away from Democratic policies. Margolies-Mezvinsky was sent packing after one...    more...  
Feb 24, 2010 Anthem Blue Cross plans to go ahead with rate hikes in California (Los Angeles Times) That review should be finished by mid-April. The company has been consistent with asserting that its rates are legal." Oatman testified with Anthem President Margolin.    more...  
Feb 24, 2010 G.O.P. Expects Little From Obama's Health Forum (New York Times) Boehner said House Republicans would take their own proposal into the meeting with Mr. Stupak’s amendment inserting the abortion restrictions.Mr. Hoyer said he preferred to pass a comprehensive bill to rein in health costs and expand coverage.    more...  
Feb 24, 2010 Healthcare reform, not political theater (Los Angeles Times) He sees medical malpractice reform as central to containing healthcare costs. Larry McNeely is a healthcare advocate for the national consumer advocacy organization U.S. PIRG. Mike Russo is a healthcare advocate for the group's California arm, CALPIRG.    more...  
Feb 24, 2010 National reform would benefit the state (The Boston Globe) The congressional health care bills would do just that. Financially stressed Bay State families would get help paying their health insurance premiums. Individuals making less than $32,000 are also eligible for help with premiums. National health reform would bring sliding-scale subsidies to an...    more...  
Feb 24, 2010 Letters: Increasing premiums show need for health care reform (USA Today) Increasing premiums show need for health care reform John Arensmeyer, founder and CEO, Small Business Majority - Sausalito, Calif. Health care premiums reflect the ballooning medical costs. We also need to tackle tort reform to lower useless costs, and to dramatically simplify insurance paperwork.    more...  
Feb 24, 2010 Impact of bipartisan summit to be felt beyond health care (USA Today) The White House long has argued that policy success would breed political success for Democrats at the polls. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, who co-authored a separate health care bill in 2008 with Sen. Both Republicans and Democrats support prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage because of...    more...  
Feb 24, 2010 Justifying increases in health-insurance rates (Richmond Times-Dispatch) ...rate increases as high as 39 percent proposed by Anthem Blue Cross for some California policyholders as evidence of the need for insurance-market reforms. Anthem Blue Cross of California, whose parent company is WellPoint Inc. (NYSE:WLP) , since has delayed the increases until May 1....    more...  
Feb 24, 2010 Texas could feel impact of Obama's proposal to review health insurance premiums (The Dallas Morning News) The employee's share of that premium increased from 13.6 percent in 1998 to 16.8 percent in 2008.    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 Reid to GOP: Stop crying about health care bill (CNN) Harry Reid says approach has been used before, says Republicans should "stop crying" * Sen. House Democrats also indicated that they are preparing to use reconciliation to pass health care. Reid countered: "We need major health care reform.    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 Reid to GOP: 'Stop crying' on health bill (CNN) Harry Reid says approach has been used before, says Republicans should "stop crying" * Sen. House Democrats also indicated that they are preparing to use reconciliation to pass health care. Reid countered: "We need major health care reform.    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 Controversy builds over health insurance hikes (Atlanta Journal Constitution) People complain that their policies are suddenly canceled and that they receive large rate increases.Georgia provides less oversight over individual health policies than many other states. Georgia has none.About 8 percent of Georgians who are privately insured -- some 460,000 people -- are...    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 Dysfunction Function: Charting the Ideal and Real Legislative Process (New York Times) In this lesson, students chart the basic process of how a bill becomes a law, and then consider Senator Evan Bayh’s criticisms of the Senate. They then dig into a current piece of legislation, and create a detailed flow chart showing the complexity of the real process. This flow chart should...    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 WH: Obama backs repeal of antitrust exemption (CNN) Advocates of an exemption repeal say that the exemption has allowed health insurance companies to essentially divide the country into geographic zones. Industry defenders, in turn, point out that insurers are still subject to state regulations. They claim that the impact of an exemption repeal is...    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 Hike approved in premiums for Direct Pay (The Providence Journal) The for-profit Wellpoint (NYSE:WLP) health-insurance company has imposed 39 percent increases in California. But he acknowledged that the number of uninsured people is increasing here, too, and people continue to find health insurance unaffordable. She said it dips into its reserves to make up...    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 Obama: repeal health insurers' antitrust exemption (USA Today) On Monday, he unveiled a proposal that sought to bridge differences between the House and Senate health overhaul bills.Health insurance premiums have been climbing even as general inflation remains low.    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 The Obama health care soundtrack (USA Today) Herewith, an Obama health soundtrack from over the past 12 months. Another address to Congress: Seeking to regain the political initiative, Obama again goes before Congress with an address devoted specifically to health care. After all, neither chamber of Congress has been able to pass a...    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 Can Obama Bypass Republicans on Health? (New York Times) Democrats have already sustained the maximum possible political damage from the health-care debate, they tell one another. If the Democratic legislation collapses liberals will be demoralized. But they can’t pass the bill anyway.    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 State cracking down on discount health cards (Contra Costa Times) Many falsely lead people to believe they are purchasing health insurance, Ehnes said. So a $99-per-month discount health card appealed to him.    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 Obama and the health care debate: Where to start? (USA Today) The Obama administration is touting the $950 billion comprehensive health care plan it unveiled yesterday, while Republicans are calling for a more piece-meal approach. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, writing in USA TODAY, said Thursday's health care summit should be used to start from scratch. Hatch writes...    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 Insurers' lifetime caps part of debate on health reform (The Columbus Dispatch) Health Care Action Network of Ohio, of the caps. "It's a small minority of people who unfortunately incur medical costs that use up their lifetime caps, but we don't know which one of us it's going to be." Lifetime caps allow private insurance companies to limit their risk. The caps are among...    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 Facing headwinds, Obama offers health deal (The Washington Times) Obama's health care summit Thursday, which is touted as a chance for Republicans and Democrats to negotiate on live television. Obama outlined his main goals on health care reform but said he wanted to leave the details of the bill largely up to Congress. Pfeiffer said the president's bill was...    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 CBO (The Washington Times) While Republicans have said that true bipartisanship requires writing bills together, Mr. It has become known as the "Louisiana Purchase." But White House press secretary Robert Gibbs noted that Mr. Gibbs on Monday called on Republicans to post their own proposal online.    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 New player in health care debate: President Obama's plan would significantly affect Pennsylvania, which can't regulate small-business insurance prices (The Morning Call) ...the state regulate rates charged to small businesses. A health care bill containing such regulatory language passed the Democrat-majority state House in early 2009 but has not been acted on by the Republican-controlled state Senate. Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, who serves on the House...    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 Proposed cuts put adult day health centers at risk (The Fresno Bee) The routine, which he learned from the center's physical therapy staff, helps strengthen his limb, amputated below the right knee. Without the workout, he gets cramps. Bravo, 61, lives alone. Most participants are enrolled in Medi-Cal, the state-federal insurance for the poor.    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 Democrats' happy Monday (Washington Post) On the other, Harry Reid muscled his $15 billion jobs bill past a Republican filibuster, paving the way for easy bipartisan passage this week. The latest Kaiser Health Tracking Poll "finds the public still split on health care reform legislation, with 43 percent in favor and 43 percent opposed....    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 Contra Costa faith group to host health care summit watch party (Contra Costa Times) George Miller, D-Martinez, who participated in a nationwide conference call with Obama and lobbied U.S. Sens.    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 State lawmakers prod insurer for data (The Indianapolis Star) Craig Fry, D-Mishawaka, who chairs the Indiana House's Insurance Committee. The legislation announced at Monday's committee meeting would amend Indiana Senate Bill 357, which focuses on insurance. The state insurance commissioner could audit a health plan at any time to determine compliance. The...    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 Rahm Works To Rescue His Own Image (Politico) ...works.For all his reputation as a tough guy, Emanuel is the consummate media schmoozer and speaks freely to friendly Fourth Estaters.That’s why many Emanuel critics pounced on a Sunday column by Dana Milbank of The Washington Post defending Emanuel — and criticizing his reputed rivals,...    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 Dems Put Insurers In Cross Hairs (Politico) The company said it also did not increase rates enough last year to keep up with rising health care costs. The cost of some plans increased 39 percent, earning nationwide headlines that fueled outrage among reform advocates. The California Democrat’s plan requires insurance companies to justify...    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 Thirsty for Revenue, White House Reaches for Black Liquor (New York Times) How did they fill it?You guessed it: black liquor. Bottoms-up!The Senate health care legislation, on the other hand, had a somewhat smaller price tag than the House version. So Senate Democrats did not need black liquor for their proposal.Mr.    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 Utah's health care compromise (The Salt Lake Tribune) Funds are doled out by a board comprised mostly of insurance executives. Clark wants to expand the tool to cover all small-group insurers doing business in Utah.    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 Obama offers new health-care reform proposal (Washington Post) But, in what is perhaps his proposal's most notable feature, he scales back the Senate bill's main revenue source, a tax on high-cost insurance that he has strongly supported. Instead, he would impose a new tax on the unearned income of the wealthy.He would expand subsidies to help working-class...    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 At Oklahoma Capitol rally, group says health care is a human right (The Daily Oklahoman) ...need for national health care, Perkel said. A measure that is pending in the Legislature would let voters decide whether Oklahoma residents would be able to opt out of a federal health care reform plan. House Joint Resolution 1054 would change the state constitution and allow voters to...    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 GOP rebuffs details of Obama health plan (The Kansas City Star) Last week, Senate Republicans released a list of 18 Democrats who, they said, opposed using reconciliation to pass health care reform. Regardless, a vote in the next few weeks seems unlikely.    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 As health costs keep rising, Obama is right to try again (The Boston Globe) The bills already passed by the House and Senate seek to bring down costs by rewriting the rules of the marketplace. And there are ways that Republicans could coalesce support around reforms that would preserve the free market and obviate the need for Obama's proposed review board. But so far,...    more...  
Feb 23, 2010 Bay State groups press Congress on health care overhaul (The Boston Globe) A recent membership survey showed that the average annual premium increase since 2006 has been 15 percent, but this year's was 22 percent.    more...  
Feb 22, 2010 What to know about Obama health plan (CNN) Individuals purchasing plans through the exchanges would have to pay for abortion coverage out of their own funds. They would be exempted from the individual insurance mandate. As with abortion, the White House is adopting the Senate's language.    more...  
Feb 22, 2010 Obama's health care bill revision seeks compromise (USA Today) House Democrats, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, had raised reservations about its impact. Obama has criticized the program because it costs taxpayers 14% more per patient than regular Medicare. Special dealsAgreements negotiated with senators to benefit their states are also out.    more...  
Feb 22, 2010 Politico Interview: Gov. Mike Beebe (Politico) Blanche Lincoln trails several Republican opponents in polls, and moderate Reps. Blanche Lincoln trails in the polls, Arkansas Gov. The tea party movement has a presence in Arkansas just as it does in every other state.    more...  
Feb 22, 2010 California insurance regulator finds more than 700 Blue Cross violations (USA Today) That will trigger hearings on whether the insurer should be fined."Complaints just keep coming in and increasing over time. The company said that would cost another $14 million.Anthem's proposed rate increases will be the focus of an oversight hearing at the Capitol Tuesday.    more...  
Feb 22, 2010 Obama health care plan to dominate this week's discussion (USA Today) President Obama made his move today, unveiling his own comprehensive health care plan. Now comes two more days of back and forth, as Republicans and some Democratic members of Congress chew on Obama's proposal ahead of Thursday's big health care summit. Boehner has not RSVP'd to the Thursday...    more...  
Feb 22, 2010 East Tampa clinic aims to provide health care, jobs (Tampa Tribune) The clinic also will provide some obstetrical and mental health care. It will be the seventh Tampa Family Health Care facility in Hillsborough County. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa. "The recovery act is our lifeline here in Tampa. The church congregation and Poinsettia Development had rezoned the site...    more...  
Feb 22, 2010 Obama's health care plan adds tension to upcoming summit (The Kansas City Star) Last week, Senate Republicans released a list of 18 Democrats who, they said, opposed using reconciliation to pass health care reform.Regardless, a vote in the next few weeks seems unlikely.    more...  
Feb 22, 2010 A delicate balancing act (Chattanooga Times/Free Press) Jeannette Martin, a retired pediatrician in Chattanooga. Republicans in Congress want to start over with a plan simpler than the voluminous bills adopted by the Democratic-controlled Congress. Insurance companies even signed on to the idea, so long as it is accompanied by a mandate that...    more...  
Feb 22, 2010 As Anthem Blue Cross sends profits to WellPoint, it plans hefty rate increases (Los Angeles Times) A Los Angeles Times analysis of the company's regulatory filings shows that $525 million in Anthem's earnings in 2009 was shipped to its corporate parent WellPoint (NYSE:WLP) Inc. In order to have a sustainable and viable business, you have to have your premiums reflect your underlying medical...    more...  
Feb 22, 2010 Obama releases $1 trillion health care bill (The Washington Times) Obama's bipartisan, televised health care reform summit, where Republicans had hoped to restart the health care bill negotiations from scratch or suggested they would oppose Mr. Pfeiffer called the legislation, posted on whitehouse.gov Monday morning, "the opening bid of the health meeting" and...    more...  
Feb 22, 2010 Obama health plan would curb insurers on rate hikes (Los Angeles Times) House Republicans haven't said whether they'll attend.    more...  
Feb 22, 2010 Obama unveils compromise health plan (CNN) If enacted, the president's sweeping compromise plan would constitute the biggest expansion of federal health care guarantees since the enactment of Medicare and Medicaid more than four decades ago. It increases the threshold -- relative to the Senate bill -- under which a tax on high-end health...    more...  
Feb 22, 2010 Obama Details Plan to Expand Health Care to Uninsured (New York Times) Obama in the House, where conservatives, led by Mr. Stupak, are adamant that the provision be included.Mr. Obama adopted the Senate’s proposal to set a uniform eligibility threshold for Medicaid at 133 percent of the federal poverty level.    more...  
Feb 22, 2010 Bipartisan push faces twin tests this week (Washington Post) Bill Clinton recovered and got deserved credit for the 1996 welfare reform and the 1997 balanced-budget deal. Obama, too, may develop better intuition than he has shown so far. Reid's aides have let it be known that a Republican filibuster of his jobs plan does not mean that he will then turn...    more...  
Feb 22, 2010 H1N1 Flu Vaccine Supply Lingers As Demand Slows: Good Till Mid-2011 (The Hartford Courant) In the first week of February, 900 doses of H1N1 vaccine were distributed in Connecticut. In those locations, Anderson said, they find people who want the vaccine but haven't gotten it yet. Others think the threat of the virus has passed, she said. "The vaccine's still good and still offers...    more...  
Feb 22, 2010 Costs soar, benefits shrink for individual health coverage (Los Angeles Times) WellPoint underestimated how much it would have to pay for its customers' care in 2009, executives said. Insured individuals have different rates, depending on their ages, locations and health conditions.Insurers say the selection process is key to controlling costs. Concerned about losing...    more...  
Feb 22, 2010 Jobless finding a little to smile about (Houston Chronicle) Other top national recruiters in recent months have been defense contractors and the major banks.    more...  
Feb 22, 2010 Health insurance rate hikes targeted (CNN) The official could not speak on the record because the White House has not yet formally announced the proposal. Word of the administration plan comes as the White House was to unveil President Obama's latest health insurance reform proposal at 10 a.m. ET Monday. The House and Senate have passed...    more...  
Feb 22, 2010 President targets rise in health insurance rates (The Boston Globe) Republicans to come forward with proposals of their own.Senate minority leader saysGOP may support jobs billMitch McConnell of Kentucky, the minority leader in the Senate, also said yesterday that GOP lawmakers ``may well'' vote for a jobs bill this week.McConnell said he prefers a version...    more...  
Feb 22, 2010 EDITORIAL: Policy changes alone won't improve health outcomes: OUR VIEWS (The Daily Oklahoman) No government program or no amount of government spending will change that. Pollan's point is that people should eat food with ingredients that don't require a translator. Or to give up cigarettes and chewing tobacco. In 2008, the Legislature directed creation of an Oklahoma Health Improvement...    more...  
Feb 22, 2010 State smoking ban has cost $2 million (The Columbus Dispatch) They say $2 million over nearly three years is a modest sum to reduce smoking rates in Ohio and protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke. Attempts to exempt certain businesses, such as fraternal organizations and family-owned bars, have fizzled in the legislature.    more...  
Feb 22, 2010 Obama To Call For Control Over Insurance Rate Hikes (Politico) ...premium hikes by private insurance companies – and in some cases, block those deemed excessive. Anthem’s rate hikes of up to 39 percent in recent weeks have focused attention on the skyrocketing health insurance costs, the very costs Obama vowed to fight when he undertook comprehensive...    more...  
Feb 22, 2010 Obama plan would curb health insurers on rate hikes (Los Angeles Times) President Obama's new healthcare overhaul plan would give the federal government greater authority to stop rate increases imposed by health insurers, an administration official said late Sunday. Earlier Sunday, Senate Republicans relented and agreed to attend Obama's bipartisan healthcare summit...    more...