Archive | May, 2012

Why Public Support For Health Reform Faltered

Kaiser Health News staff writers report, “As a candidate, Barack Obama promised to pass a health plan with important benefits for the average American. …

Today’s Selection Of Opinions And Editorials

The Incredible, Shrinking Health Care Overhaul USA Today For now it appears that Washington’s polarizing ways, and public anxiety about change, have again left Americans with the most expensive, least reliable health care system in the developed world. No matter who you are, that’s hardly cause to celebrate (1/21)…

Democrats Weigh Imperfect Options For Moving Forward On Health Reform

USA Today reports that “Democratic leaders say [Mass. Republican Scott] Brown’s win hasn’t killed the $1 trillion health care bill,” but after a series of meetings Wednesday they still had no “clear plan for how to proceed…

How ‘Budget Reconciliation’ Works

With this primer, Kaiser Health News details the budget reconciliation process. “Democratic leaders, who no longer have a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, are weighing the use of arcane budget rules to pass at least part of the long-debated health overhaul package. The procedure … likely would limit the scope of the legislation…

State Organizers Mobilize Against National Health Reform

State organizers are creating obstacles to national health care reform. In Colorado, Republican organizer Jon Caldara has vowed to derail national reforms with a ballot initiative. The Wall Street Journal reports about similar steps being taken across the country. “Republican attorneys general and governors …

Rules For Patient Data Security Remain Widely Unenforced

“As the federal government prepares to spend up to $27 billion in stimulus funds to promote electronic medical records, a health technology industry survey suggests that a number of hospitals, health clinics, and insurance firms are violating federal security rules on patient data and putting sensitive health information at risk,” The Center for Public Integrity reports…

Health Care Companies Assess Where They Stand On Health Reform After Election

The Wall Street Journal reports that several firms reiterated support for a health care reform bill Wednesday, a day after the overhaul’s viability was called into question by the victory of Republican Sen.-elect Scott Brown in Massachusetts. “PhRMA, the drug industry association, as well as companies including Pfizer Inc., Johnson & Johnson, WellPoint Inc. and Humana Inc…

Democrats Consider Scaling Back Health Reform Package

ABC News interviewed President Barack Obama, who said: “The Senate certainly shouldn’t try to jam anything through until Scott Brown is seated. People in Massachusetts spoke. He’s got to be part of that process. …

Abstinence-Only Advocates See Senate Reform Bill As Last Hope For Federal Funding

Abstinence-only advocates are relying on the Senate version of health reform legislation (HR 3590) for federal funding after the fiscal year 2010 budget did not include money for the programs, HealthLeaders Media reports. The Senate reform bill includes a provision that would allocate $50 million to states to fund abstinence-only curriculums…

States Struggle With Budget Cuts, Increased Medicaid Pressure

News outlets look at developments in Medicaid issues. The Associated Press/ABC News reports on Louisiana: “Sen. Mary Landrieu defended the Senate’s version of health care overhaul legislation – and language in it that provides up to $365 million in Medicaid money for Louisiana – as she discussed what her fellow Democrats should do after losing a crucial Senate seat to a Massachusetts Republican…