Top stories

 

Obama Meets with Republicans to Bridge Partisan Divide

The Washington Post

Feb. 10, 2010

 

President Obama brought Republicans to the negotiating table on Tuesday, hoping to stem a steady deterioration in relations between the two parties that has brought business in Washington to a standstill, left the Democratic agenda in tatters and angered voters who are eager to have lawmakers address their concerns.

 

Related: Obama, GOP Seek Accord, The Wall Street Journal

President Obama to GOP: Work With Me, Politico

 

Obama Would OK Health Bill Minus Items He Pursued

AP/Google News
Feb. 9, 2010

 

Signaling he'd meet critics part way on health care, President Barack Obama said Tuesday he's willing to sign a bill even if it doesn't deliver everything he pursued through a year of grinding effort at risk of going down as a dismal failure.

 

Insurance

 

Congress Opens Probe into Anthem Blue Cross Rate Increases

The Los Angeles Times
Feb. 10, 2010

 

Congress opened an investigation Tuesday into Anthem Blue Cross' impending rate increases in California as President Obama cited the premium hikes -- some as high as 39% -- in his bid to pass national healthcare legislation.

 

As Focus Shifts To Jobs, The Uninsured Seek Solutions

NPR/Kaiser Health News
Feb. 9, 2010

 

The national debate over health care appears to be taking a back seat to jobs creation — but the problem persists for people who have jobs but no health insurance.

 

Transparency/Safety

 

F.D.A. to Increase Oversight of Medical Radiation

The New York Times
Feb. 9, 2010

 

The federal Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday that it would take steps to more stringently regulate three of the most potent forms of medical radiation, including increasingly popular CT scans, some of which deliver the radiation equivalent of 400 chest X-rays.

 

Long-Term Care Hospitals Face Little Scrutiny

The New York Times
Feb. 10, 2010

 

Lawsuits, state inspections and federal statistics paint a troubling picture of the care offered at some hospitals.

 

Wellness/Chronic Care

 

First Lady Michelle Obama: 'Let's Move' and Work on Childhood Obesity Problem

The Washington Post

Feb. 10, 2010

 

Michelle Obama rolled out her national initiative to combat childhood obesity Tuesday afternoon with a show of force that included government officials as well as those most directly affected -- the kids themselves.

 

Cigna Acquires Company to Grow Wellness Business

The Philadelphia Inquirer

Feb. 10, 2010

 

Philadelphia-based insurer Cigna Corp. has closed a deal to spend up to $5 million to buy Kronos Optimal Health Co. Kronos currently contracts with 13,000 health coaches around the United States who can counsel on weight loss, stress reduction, fitness, and diet, all part of the growing trend toward "wellness" at work.

 

Reform efforts

 

Ten GOP Health Ideas for Obama

The Wall Street Journal – Opinion
Feb. 10, 2010

An opinion piece from Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and founder of the Center for Health Transformation, and John Goodman, president and CEO of the National Center for Policy Analysis.

Poll: Bipartisanship Popular, Compromise Tricky

The Washington Post

Feb. 10, 2010

 

Americans spread the blame when it comes to the lack of cooperation in Washington, and, in a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, most want the two sides to keep working to pass comprehensive health-care reform.

 

Miscellaneous

 

Half of Nurses Plan Career Change, Says Survey

HealthLeaders Media

AMN Healthcare recently conducted its 2010 Survey of Registered Nurses to address the issues of job satisfaction levels and if the recession is affecting nursing career plans. The survey was sent to registered nurses via e-mail and 1,399 nurses completed the survey. The survey found that almost half (44%) of all nurses plan to make a career change over the next three years, and that more than one-third of the respondents experience job dissatisfaction

Tags: health care reform, Health Policy