Archive | May, 2012

Democrats Reflect On Importance Of Reconciliation In Health Bill Strategy

Reconciliation proved critical to health care reform passage, The New York Times reports: “Just a few months into his first term in 1993, President Bill Clinton went to Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, the protector of Senate rules, to ask permission to use a fast-track budget process known as reconciliation to enact a bold health care overhaul…

Today’s OpEds: The States’ Lawsuits, The Need To Trim Health Costs And Industry Winners

The Legal Assault on Health Reforms The New York Times No sooner had President Obama signed comprehensive health care reform than the attorneys general of 14 states scurried to the federal courts to challenge the law. …

Massachusetts Governor’s Race Focuses On National Health Question: Cost Control

The Massachusetts governor’s race “is focused on the question that now confronts the nation: how to keep spiraling costs from bankrupting the experiment,” The New York Times reports. “Four years ago, when Massachusetts enacted a health insurance plan that became a national template, state leaders deferred any serious discussion about controlling health care costs, with predictable results…

Obama’s Calm Demeanor, Pelosi’s Firm Stand Helped Propel Health Care Law

The Hill: “President Barack Obama and Democrats missed repeated deadlines, fought back cries of ‘death panels’ and watched healthcare reform nearly die more than dozen times. Through it all, Obama was the steady captain of the ship, his top aides say, a role the president has played since the early days of the 2008 presidential campaign…

Political Ripples Of Overhaul Remain Uncertain

Lawmakers received mixed receptions at home after last week’s vote, and speculation continues to swirl about how the health overhaul will play out in November’s midterm elections…

Shinseki Tries To Squelch Rumors About Health Reform And Vets

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Erik Shinseki “addressed fears that some veterans have expressed that their health care and, specifically, their TRICARE medical coverage will be adversely affected by the health-reform legislation,” according to the Providence Journal. “Shinseki pointed out that President Obama has strongly supported veterans and their needs. …

Health Industry Will See More Patients With Reform; Physicians Give Mixed Reviews

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “The health care plan aims to send a wave of paying patients to hospitals, doctors and pharmacists.” Expanded coverage will mean less uncompensated care, a boon to traditional safety-net hospitals, but also more Medicaid patients. Hospitals say Medicaid fees don’t cover their costs, so that influx could hurt the bottom line…

How The Health Legislation Will Affect Consumers

The Los Angeles Times explores some key questions: Will insurers continue to raise premiums; when will the Medicare “doughnut hole” close; and, “how do I sign up for my new insurance?” In answer to the last one, the Times writes, “Although there are some provisions that take effect this year, such as bans on lifetime limits and the denial of coverage to children with pre-existi…

Stupak Defends Health Reform Role Against Criticism From All Sides

Antiabortion-rights Democrat Rep. Bart Stupak (Mich.) is “taking fire” from both sides of the abortion-rights debate after supporting an agreement with the White House on the heath reform law’s (HR 3590) abortion-related language, the Wall Street Journal reports…

National Flood Insurance Program to lapse

WASHINGTON—The Senate adjourned Friday without extending the National
Flood Insurance Program, which is slated to expire Sunday.
Language
that would have kept the program in place until April 30 was part of a
more comprehensive bill that extended a variety of federal programs.
Although the bill won House approval earlier this …