January 13: Health Care Reform News
TOP STORIES
Support Grows for U.S. Health Exchange
The Wall Street Journal
January 13, 2010
The White House wants to include a national health-insurance exchange in the health bill, which would give House Democrats one of their top remaining demands.
Additional Coverage -
Obama Supports National Health Insurance Exchange - The Huffington Post
Obama, Congressional Democrats Meeting on Health
The Washington Post
January 13, 2010
With congressional negotiators starting to make decisions on a final health overhaul bill, top Democrats are hoping a White House session with President Barack Obama will narrow differences between the House and Senate.
Economist Butler: Give States Maximum Flexibility Under Health Reform
Kaiser Health News
January 13, 2010
A wide-ranging discussion with Kaisers Stuart Butler, about the proposal to have the federal Office of Personnel Management have a role in expanding insurance coverage to more Americans; the increasingly heated debate over the roles of the federal government and the states in implementing any legislation, and the merits, or demerits of an individual mandate.
AMA Back Senate Health Care Bill
The Washington Times
January 12, 2010
The American Medical Association gave its support Monday to the Senate's latest health care reform bill as a result of several key changes.
INSURANCE
Health Insurers Funded Chamber Attack Ads
National Journal’s Under the Influence
January 13, 2010
Just as dealings with the Obama administration and congressional Democrats soured last summer, six of the nation's biggest health insurers began quietly pumping big money into third-party television ads aimed at killing or significantly modifying the major health reform bills moving through Congress.
White House Response to Insurance Report Released Today
The White House Blog
January 13, 2010
A new report today confirms one of Washington's worst-kept secrets – big insurance companies are fighting tooth and nail to kill health reform that will wrest power from their hands and give it to American families.
TRANSPARENCY/SAFETY
Health Care: A ‘Goldmine’ for Fraudsters
CNN Money
January 13, 2010
There is a group of people who really love the U.S. health care system - the fraudsters, scammers and organized criminal gangs who are bilking the system of as much as $100 billion a year.
WELLNESS/CHRONIC CARE
Walgreen to Test Diabetes Services
The Wall Street Journal
January 13, 2010
Under a pilot program, people with Type 2 diabetes will have an opportunity for personal consultations with Walgreen pharmacists and nurse practitioners.
STATE NEWS
Massachusetts Election Has Democrats on Edge
Politico
January 13, 2010
It’s hard for some Democrats to believe that the candidate running to replace Ted Kennedy is being attacked over health care reform - in one of the bluest states in the union, no less.
Nelson Says Health Reform Crucial
The Chadron News
January 13, 2010
In the fallout after his yes vote on the Senate health care reform bill in December, Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson remains adamant about several things - he didn’t sell his vote and two key items, no public option and no abortion funding will have to be included from the final Senate bill before he’ll vote yes again.
MEDICARE/MEDICAID
Medical Groups Charge Proposed Medicare Payment Panel Could Restrict Patient Access
Healthleaders Media
January 13, 2010
Nearly 75 health care organizations called for Congress to drop the proposed Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) from consideration in the reconciled health care reform bill.
REFORM EFFORTS
House Dems Mount Health Assault
Politico
January 13, 2010
Furious with the Senate and desperate to regain a foothold in the health care debate, a wave of rank-and-file House Democrats assailed the Senate's tax on high-end health care plans Tuesday night.
Dems Go on Offensive Against GOP, Insurers
Politico
January 13, 2010
Democrats are going on the attack today, calling out Republicans and the insurance industry.
Congress Fights Health Care Fatigue to Finish the Bill
The Los Angeles Times
January 13, 2010
Facing an electorate more worried about jobs and the economy than health care, House and Senate Democrats have stepped up efforts to get a compromise bill to President Obama by the end of the month
Harry Truman Would Like The House Bill
The New Republic
January 13, 2010
The final health care reform bill will probably look more like the Senate version than its House counterpart and that result is backwards.
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
Deals to Restrain Generic Drugs Face a Ban in Health Care Bill
The New York Times
January 13, 2010
A group of House lawmakers and the head of the Federal Trade Commission want Congress to include a provision in the health care legislation that could save American consumers several billion dollars a year on prescription drugs.
EMPLOYERS
Labor Campaigns Against Tax on Health Plans
The New York Times
January 13, 2010
Having failed to persuade President Obama to scrap a proposed tax on high-cost health insurance policies, labor leaders took their case Tuesday to Speaker Pelosi, and said they received a more favorable response.
Health Bill May Be Lenient on Employers
The Boston Globe
January 13, 2010
Democratic leaders negotiating a compromise health care bill appear likely to reject a House provision requiring employers to offer generous coverage to their workers or else pay a steep payroll tax.
MISCELLANEOUS
Health Sector Deals, After Overhaul, Seen Reheating in 2010
The Wall Street Journal
January 12, 2010
Merger and buyout activity is likely to heat up in the health care sector in 2010 as the debate over a national health overhaul winds down.
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