Health Care For America Now

NEWS

President Is Set to 'Take the Baton'- Washington Post

Six months into his presidency, Barack Obama may have no greater test of his ability to translate personal popularity into a successful legislative agenda than the upcoming two weeks.

Alliances In Health Debate Splinter - Washington Post

Months of relative cooperation among disparate interest groups in the heath-care reform debate appear to be coming to an end, as the major political parties and their surrogates unleash dueling television advertisements, e-mail campaigns and grass-roots protests.

White House Moves To Calm Health Care Bill Fears - NPR

The White House is fighting back against accusations that the health care overhaul bills moving through Congress would actually increase health spending rather than save money over the long haul.

Rep. Ross: 'Blue Dogs' Can't Back Health Care Bills - NPR

As President Obama's health plan hits resistance in Congress, the key may be the "Blue Dog" Democrats in the House. Guy Raz speaks with one of the leading Blue Dogs, Rep. Mike Ross of Arkansas, about his recent statement: "We cannot support the current bill."

Obama, Congress Ready For Overhaul Fight- NPR

President Obama is pushing hard for a consensus on health care legislation before Congress adjourns for the summer. That goal, however, has already hit a snag — a report issued Thursday by the Congressional Budget Office that says none of the health reform proposals floated so far will achieve his goal of curbing the skyrocketing rate of health care costs.

First Lady Steps Into Policy Spotlight in Debate on Health Care - NYTimes

She has become one of the Obama administration’s most visible surrogates on health care, announcing the release of $851 million in federal financing for health clinics, calling for tougher nutritional standards in the government’s school lunch program and urging Democrats to rally around the president’s efforts to revamp health care.

Governors Fear Medicaid Costs in Health Plan - NYTimes

BILOXI, Miss. — The nation’s governors, Democrats as well as Republicans, voiced deep concern Sunday about the shape of the health care plan emerging from Congress, fearing that Washington was about to hand them expensive new Medicaid obligations without money to pay for them.

OPINION

A Brief History of the R Word - The Health Care Blog

By BOB WACHTER

Joseph StalinPrinceton ethicist Peter Singer’s article in this week’s NY Times Sunday Magazine is creating lots of buzz. It is a classic utilitarian description of the case for rationing – QALYs and all – and a plea for a mature national dialogue about the dreaded R-word.

Op-Ed: Dems’ health plan will increase costs for families, small businesses - Yahoo News

By House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio)

Middle-class families are struggling every day with rising costs of housing, food, transportation, and taxes. But for many, rising costs of health care are the most devastating of all. That’s why Americans’ top priority during the ongoing health care debate is a plan that will reduce costs. Unfortunately, the government takeover of health care offered by the Washington Democrats will not reduce costs; instead, it will dramatically increase costs – for your family, America’s small businesses, and all taxpayers.

Memo to Members of Congress: Don’t Be on the Wrong Side of History - Huffington Post

Bob Creamer

Today it would be hard to find one member of Congress who openly advocates the abolition of Medicare or Social Security. It’s true that during the Bush Presidency right-wing Republicans tried to weaken, dilute and privatize both. But their proposals were always passed off as attempts to “strengthen” these programs that have become two of the most popular and widely respected institutions of government.