NEWS

Obama reaffirms commitment to healthcare reform - Reuters

President Barack Obama told a joint session of the U.S. Congress on Tuesday his budget plan this week would include a "down payment" on the principle that all Americans should have access to affordable healthcare.

Public Strongly Supports Action on Health Care Reform - Kaiser Family Foundation

As economic conditions continue to worsen, the public is increasingly worried about the affordability and availability of care, with many postponing or skipping treatments due to cost in the past year and a notable minority forced into serious financial straits due to medical bills, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s first health care tracking poll of 2009.

It's not universal health care, but… - Politico

To the casual listener, President Barack Obama’s promises on health care Tuesday may have sounded like an unequivocal vow to get all Americans health insurance coverage by the end of 2009.

Study Cites Obstacles for Poor to Renew Health Insurance - New York Times

More than a third of New York State’s recipients of Medicaid and other public health insurance programs fail to re-enroll on time, losing coverage even though they remain eligible, because of daunting paperwork and other obstacles, according to a new study.

President hints at 'hard choices' - Boston Globe

Although Obama did not lay out specifics on healthcare, advocates on the issue were elated that he forcefully reaffirmed his commitment to overhauling the healthcare system this year. He also made it clear he intends to think big, insisting on insurance for everyone. "I hope what the speech does is stop the chorus of naysayers who say he doesn't really mean to do it in 2009, and get people to realize - yes, he does," said Richard Kirsch, president of Health Care for America Now, a liberal coalition campaigning to remake healthcare.

Small Businesses Want Affordable Insurance - NPR

In his speech to Congress, President Obama said bringing health care costs down would be a big step toward fixing the nation's economy. Small business owners are among the most eager for some kind of action. For them, the recession makes it even tougher to offer health insurance.

Moving nation from sick care toward wellness care - Associated Press

Popping a pill can cut your cholesterol. But did the doctor also prescribe cutting the stress that's eroding your immune system? Or teach you how to exercise without worsening painful joints?

Low-Cost Health Care in Howard Not an Easy Sell - Washington Post

What if you build it and they don't come?

Officials in Howard County thought their low-cost health-care program would be an easy sell in a community where an estimated 15,000 adults are without coverage. But nearly four months later, they are struggling to get people to enroll.

OPINION

Obama: Health Reform ‘Will Not Wait Another Year’ - Think Progress

Tonight, during his prime time address to the nation, President Barack Obama said, “let there be no doubt: health care reform cannot wait, it must not wait, and it will not wait another year."

Divining Obama’s Health Care Budget - Columbia Journalism Review

Sam Stein, who blogs at the Huffington Post, apparently has a pipeline to the health care gods—in this case, a senior administration official (unnamed, of course) who says the budget will call for tens of billions of dollars to be devoted to health care over the next ten years. The money will provide a pool of resources, as Stein puts it, “to help shore up the health care system on the benefits and coverage side.” Just what this means is hard to say, because the money quote from the official is well, government doublespeak.

Citizens self-rationing care due to cost - Health Populi

Americans skipped recommended medical tests and procedures, cut pills, and skipped dental care due to cost in the past year.