August 28: Health Care Reform News
Editorial: Mayo advances health reform debate
On Tuesday, Mayo Clinic issued two statements that should be required reading for every member of Congress. Indeed, any American who has an interest in health care reform should study Mayo's "Perspective on current health reform issues" and "A Foundation for Health Care Reform Legislation."
President Obama has made it abundantly clear that Mayo Clinic is one of his models for health care reform, so it's entirely appropriate and indeed necessary that Mayo remain out front with clearly stated positions on such hot-button issues as the "public option," payment reform, insurance mandates and end-of-life issues.
Post-Bulletin, 08/28/2009
TOP STORIES
Tax Cuts Could Get Health Care Back on Track
The Washington Examiner
August 28, 2009
The tax code long has stood in the way of helping individuals purchase insurance they can afford, and it’s time to remove those obstacles.
Democrats Scramble on Health Reform Post-Kennedy
Reuters
August 29, 2009
Apart from depriving Congress of its most effective champion of health care reform, Kennedy's death cost his Democratic party its essential 60th vote in the Senate, the number needed to beat Republican tactical blocking maneuvers.
GOP Poll: Reform Less Popular than ‘94
Politico
August 28, 2009
A new poll shows President Obama's reform plan faces more public skepticism than President Clinton's proposals did in 1994.
Pawlenty Says ‘Ludicrous’ to Claim Stimulus Pivoted Economy
The Bloomberg Report
August 28, 2009
Governor Tim Pawlenty charged that President Obama’s $787 billion economic stimulus program still isn’t working and that his health-care overhaul proposal would lead to medical rationing.
INSURANCE
Care No Better When Insurance Added to Government Plan
Reuters
August 28, 2009
As the U.S. grapples with health care reform, a study out of South Korea suggests that private health insurance meant to bolster that country's universal healthcare system seems to have little effect on patients' quality of care.
Amid the Acrimony, Congress Has Consensus on Some Health Care Issues
The Los Angeles Times
August 28, 2009
Democrats and Republicans actually agree on a bundle of proposals that could make medical insurance better for millions of Americans.
Dealing with Being the Health Care ‘Villains’’
The New York Times
August 28, 2009
Employees of Humana, the nation’s fourth-largest health insurer, are not pleased at being the focus of criticism by proponents of a health care system overhaul.
TRANSPARENCY/SAFETY
Americans’ Worries about Paying for Future Health Costs are Rising
Health Populi
August 28, 2009
Americans’ confidence in their ability to cover future health costs dramatically declined between June and July 2009.
Nancy Pelosi Asks for $100k to Fight ‘Smears’
Politico
August 28, 2009
Nancy Pelosi has launched an urgent effort to raise $100,000 by Monday to help combat what she calls GOP "smears" about health care reform.
WELLNESS/CHRONIC CARE
Weak Link Between Family Health Histories, Chronic Conditions
Healthleaders Media
August 28, 2009
The use of family health histories has had important roles over the years in the practice of medicine, however, these histories are now being questioned in patient care scenarios.
STATE NEWS
Kline Tells Business Group, ‘It’s Time to Push the Reset Button’
Roll Call
August 27, 2009
Rep. John Kline told members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that Republicans and Democrats should throw out the proposed Democratic and Republican health care bills and start over.
Medtronic Defends Payments to Physicians
Star Tribune
August 28, 2009
Medtronic Inc., CEO Bill Hawkins defended his company's longstanding practice of collaborating with physicians, although he acknowledged these paid relationships could pose a conflict of interest.
MEDICARE/MEDICAID
What Medicare Says About Medicare Changes
The New York Times
August 28, 2009
Amid speculation about what a health care overhaul might mean for Medicare, what do the people who actually run the program have to say?
Medicaid System to Detect Fraud, Waste, and Abuse is Full of Holes
Healthleaders Media
August 28, 2009
With serious implications for the government's ability to detect fraud, waste, and abuse in the Medicaid system, an Office of Inspector General report found a lack of timeliness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness of the federal database used for that purpose.
Cardiologists Crying Foul Over Obama Medicare Cuts
The Bloomberg Report
August 28, 2009
An Obama administration plan to cut Medicare payments to heart and cancer doctors by $1.4 billion next year is generating a backlash that’s undermining the president’s health care overhaul.
REFORM EFFORTS
The Health Reform Bills Would be Great for the Business of Health Care
Health Care Policy and Marketplace Review
August 27, 2009
Have you noticed how none of the big health care business special interests is running any negative health care reform ads? Why should they when each is poised to gain billions of dollars from it?
Kennedy Death Adds Volatile Element to Health Fight
The New York Times
August 28, 2009
The death of Senator Edward M. Kennedy became a rallying point for advocates of health care reform and could provide a new tone in the debate.
Health Compromise to See Changes Before Vote, House Dems Say
The Wall Street Journal
August 28, 2009
Two senior House Democrats said an agreement struck with centrist Blue Dog Democrats in late July on a public health insurance option might be altered before a health care bill reaches the House floor.
Reid’s Views on Overhaul Taking Shape
The Las Vegas Sun
August 28, 2009
Harry Reid supports a public option to provide competition and hints he’s against conservatives’ tort reforms.
What Are Health Insurance Subsidies?
Kaiser Family Foundation
August 28, 2009
A short paper released today by the Kaiser Family Foundation explains how government subsidies work in making coverage more affordable, protecting lower income people from high out-of-pocket costs and encouraging broad participation in health insurance.
Some Roman Catholic Bishops Assail Obama’s Health Plan
The New York Times
August 28, 2009
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has been lobbying for three decades for the federal government to provide universal health insurance - now a growing number of bishops are speaking out against it.
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