December 9, 2009

December 9: Health Care Reform News

By Kelley Luckstein

Top stories

 

Senate May Drop Public Option

The Washington Post
Dec. 9, 2009

 

Negotiators strike deal to replace controversial government-run insurance plan in their version of legislation; abortion amendment fails.
Related:
Reid Says Deal Resolves the Impasse on the Public Option, The New York Times

Harry Reid: Democrats Reach 'Broad Agreement', Politico

Senators Strike Health Deal, The Wall Street Journal

 

Democrats' Ideas To Expand Medicare Raise Hackles Of Doctors, Hospitals, Insurers
Kaiser Health News
Dec. 9, 2009

 

Hospitals, doctors and insurers lined up in opposition Tuesday to allowing people under 65 to join Medicare – an idea being debated as Senate negotiators struggle to put together the 60 votes needed to pass sprawling health care legislation.

 

Transparency/Safety

 

National Alert System Launches To Prevent Deadly Medication Errors
Medical News Today
Dec. 9, 2009

 

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) are partnering to develop the National Alert Network for Serious Medication Errors (NAN).

 

Reform efforts

 

Value and Innovation Package From Freshman Senators

Sen. Mark R. Warner
Dec. 8, 2009
On December 8, 11 freshman Senators introduced the "Value and Innovation" amendment package, aimed at encouraging innovation and affordability for consumers across the U.S. health care system.

 

 

Finding the Nerve to Cut Health Costs

The New York Times
Dec. 8, 2009

 

Recent days have offered hope that some in Congress are summoning the courage to cut wasteful health spending, and endure the scare stories that follow.

 

Senate Rejects Strict Abortion Curbs In Health Bill

AP/NPR

Dec. 8, 2009

 

The Senate on Tuesday rejected an effort by abortion opponents to tighten restrictions in the health care overhaul bill on taxpayer dollars for the procedure, but it was unlikely to be the last word on the divisive issue.

Supporters Add Hidden Nuggets to Health Care Bills
USA Today
Dec. 9, 2009

 

Buried among the healthcare reform legislation are dozens of lesser-known provisions—from work breaks for breastfeeding moms to a requirement that chain restaurants disclose how many calories are in the fries, USA Today reports.

 

Health-Care Nation

Newsweek
Dec. 7, 2009

Robert Samuelson writes that medical spending threatens everything else.

Miscellaneous

 

US Tops World in Health Care Spending, Results Lag

AP/Yahoo News
Dec. 8, 2009

 

The United States ranks near the bottom in life expectancy among wealthy nations despite spending more than double per person on health care than the industrialized world's average, an economic group said Tuesday. See the OECD’s report here.

Tags: health care reform news, Health Policy, Health Policy

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