TOP STORIES
Senate Democrats Health Plan Seeks to Add Coverage to 21 Million
The New York Times
November 19, 2009
Senate Democratic leaders unveiled their legislation titled ‘The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’ that would cover most of the uninsured while reducing the federal budget deficit.
Additional Coverage:
Showdown Set for Health Bill - The Wall Street Journal
Senate Unveils Health Care Bill - The Washington Post
Reid Lays Out $849B Senate Health Care Bill - USA Today
Reid Plan Ups Pressure on Moderates - Politico
Daschle: Health Reform Has 60 Percent Chance of Passing
Fierce Healthcare
November 18, 2009
Recently, Tom Daschle announced to a health care conference he believes that health reforms have no more than a 60 percent chance of passing.
TRANSPARENCY/SAFETY
Health-Care Reform: How the Bills Stack Up
The Washington Post
November 19, 2009
A look at how Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s health care bill compares with the House bill passed Nov. 7.
Industry Influence on Comparative-Effectiveness Research Funded Through Health Care Reform
The New England Journal of Medicine
November 18, 2009
Comprehensive health care should reduce the use of ineffective and suboptimal medical interventions and investigations in order to improve medical care and reduce wasted expense. To do that effectively, we need data on the comparative effectiveness of therapies and medical tests, which unfortunately we currently lack.
Lobbying, Campaign Contributions, and Health Care Reform
The New England Journal of Medicine
November 18, 2009
With health care reform in the air, interest groups are spending huge sums of money to influence the final legislation and other matters pending in Washington.
WELLNESS/CHRONIC CARE
White House Backs Off Cancer Test Guidelines
The Washington Post
November 19, 2009
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said that the controversial new guidelines for breast cancer screening do not represent government policy.
STATE NEWS
Minnesota-Based HCMC to Reduce Charity Care, Cut Jobs
The Star Tribune
November 18, 2009
Due to a loss of Minnesota health care funds, Hennepin County Medical Center plans to stop seeing uninsured, nonemergency patients from other counties, cut 150 to 200 jobs, and close two clinics on its downtown campus.
REFORM EFFORTS
Joe Lieberman Slams Public Option: Taunts Critics
Politico
November 19, 2009
Senator Joe Lieberman’s threat to filibuster any health care bill with a public option could kill health reform this year and embolden Democratic challengers who’d like to send him packing in 2012.
Health Care Reform - A Republican View
The New England Journal of Medicine
November 18, 2009
The reform proposals pending in Congress would make a bad situation worse.
The New England Journal of Medicine
November 18, 2009
If history is a guide, equal scrutiny should be given to another health care legislative possibility - a “no” vote that preserves the status quo.
Nelson: I’m Comfortable Being Lone Democrat to Derail Reform
The Huffington Post
November 19, 2009
Ben Nelson, a key conservative Senate Democrats, is pleased with the changes party leadership had made to health care legislation, but is comfortable being the lone Democrat to prevent the bill from overcoming a Republican filibuster.
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
Rising Prices of Drugs Lead to Call for Inquiry
The New York Times
November 19, 2009
Responding to news reports of unusually high wholesale price increases in brand-name prescription drugs, four House leaders and one senator asked for government reviews of the pricing practices.