February 12: Health Care Reform News
TOP STORIES
Comparative-Effectiveness: A Simple Health Care Fix Fizzles Out
The Wall Street Journal
February 11, 2010
Even before Congress took up the now-stalled health care overhaul, it appropriated $1.1 billion to fund comparative-effectiveness studies. But an examination of one of the best-known examples of a comparative-effectiveness analysis shows how complicated the seemingly straightforward idea can get.
Health Reform in Limbo, Top Drug Lobbyist Quits
The New York Times
February 12, 2010
Billy Tauzin one of the highest paid lobbyists in Washington, is resigning as president of the pharmaceutical industry’s trade group amid internal disputes over its pact with the White House to trade political support for favorable terms in the proposed health care overhaul.
Additional Coverage
PhRMA President Tauzin to Resign - The Wall Street Journal
INSURANCE
Wellpoint Takes Heat Over Rates
The Wall Street Journal
February 12, 2010
The Obama administration is seizing on a big health insurance rate increase by WellPoint Inc. in California as fresh evidence of the need for action.
Administration Rejects Health Insurer’s Defense of Huge Rate Increases
The New York Times
February 12, 2010
Kathleen Sebelius declared Anthem Blue Cross’s explanation of a 39 percent increase in premiums as inadequate.
Top Five Insurers Made $12 Billion in Profits Last Year, Dropped 2.7 Million People
Politico
February 12, 2010
With health reform floundering, Democrats have renewed their attacks on the insurance industry and a new report out today hopes to bolster their case that insurance company practices need to be reigned in.
TRANSPARENCY/SAFETY
Sen. Conrad: Media Focusing on ‘Side Issues’ in Health Debate
The Hill
February 12, 2010
Sen. Kent Conrad implored reporters to improve their coverage of the health care debate, which he described as incomplete.
STATE NEWS
VA. House Passes Bill to Defy Health Care Mandate
The Washington Examiner
February 12, 2010
Virginia's House of Delegates voted to defy a potential health insurance mandate from Congress; the vote puts the state legislature squarely in opposition to a core provision of congressional Democrats' health care bill.
MEDICARE/MEDICAID
The New York Times - Op-Ed
February 12, 2010
Even as Republicans denounce modest proposals to rein in Medicare's rising costs, they are seeking to dismantle the whole program and the process of dismantling would begin with spending cuts of about $650 billion over the next decade.
REFORM EFFORTS
Call for Clean Slate on Health Reform Divides U.S.
Reuters
February 12, 2010
Americans are deeply divided over demands by U.S. Republicans that bills backed by President Barack Obama to reform the $2.5 trillion health system be scrapped and the whole process be started again from scratch.
Can GOP Shine at Health Summit?
Politico
February 12, 2010
The nationally televised health care summit gives the GOP a venue to accomplish something it hasn’t been able to do since President Barack Obama took the oath of office: Sell voters on Republican solutions to big problems.
HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Obama Administration Makes Grants for Health IT
AP/Yahoo News
February 12, 2010
The Obama administration is awarding $975 million in grants to help states and health care providers adopt health information technology.
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