NEWS

Conrad Moves Closer To Public Health Care After Negotiations - Huffington Post

Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) moved sharply toward public health care Monday, saying that he could "absolutely" support major parts of Sen. Chuck Schumer's compromise proposal for a public option after closed-door negotiations.

Obama’s Political Operation To Launch Big Database Of Health Care Stories - Greg Sargent

In a major new effort to throw Obama’s campaign apparatus into the push for health care reform, the White House’s political operation is set to launch a massive new online data bank of thousands of health care stories, which will be spread around the country via Obama’s extensive email list, officials familiar with the project tell me.

For Drug Makers, Concessions Have a Bright Side - Wall Street Journal

WASHINGTON — The pharmaceutical industry's agreement to contribute $80 billion over 10 years to a proposed health-care overhaul could yield new business for drug makers, and provide them more certainty about how big a hit they'll take from government cost-cutting.

Democrats getting bolder on gov't insurance plan - Associated Press

Democrats are becoming bolder about their idea that middle-class familes get the option of joining a government insurance plan in any overhaul of the health care system. Their fervor carries a risk.

Ads Highlight Different Aspects Of Health Reform Debate - Kaiser Health News

A coalition of union and liberal groups began running television ads designed to get "the attention of one particular television viewer: Sen. Kay Hagan," The Greensboro (N.C.) News & Record reports.

OPINION

The Public Insurance Plan Is Not Responsible For High CBO Scores - Think Progress

Since the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued very preliminary cost estimates of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee’s health bill and the Senate Finance Committee’s draft legislation, Republicans and some in the media have argued that the somewhat higher-than expected price tags undermine the President’s contention that a new public heath insurance plan would lower health care spending.

Special Interest Money Means Longer Odds for Public Option - 538

As I lamented yesterday, health care is one of those areas where both popular opinion and sound public policy seem to take a backseat to protecting those stakeholders who benefit from the status quo. But can we actually see — statistically — the impact of lobbying by the insurance industry on the prospects for health care reform? I believe that the answer is yes.

Mr. Daschle's Surrender on Health Care's 'Public Option' - Washington Post

I was disappointed — no, outraged — to read in David S. Broder's June 18 op-ed column, "Heavy Lifters for a Health-Care Bill," that former Democratic Senate majority leader Thomas A. Daschle does not believe that President Obama's demand for a public health insurance option can be honored by a Democratic Congress.

Health Care Survey: Costs Out of Control, Need for Reform ‘Urgent’ - AFL-CIO

Out-of-control health care costs are forcing working families to forgo needed medical care and shredding family bank accounts, while private health insurance companies deny claims and, far too often, refuse to provide coverage.