Health Care For America Now

NEWS

Health care proponents launch massive ad campaign - CNN

Proponents of health care reform Tuesday are launching a sizable television ad campaign in an effort to sway undecided House Democrats to get them to vote in favor of the legislation.

Wavering Dems in Obama's sights on health vote - AP

Days away from a make-or-break vote on his health care overhaul, President Barack Obama is turning up the pressure as only presidents can, as Democratic leaders make a desperate scramble for votes.

House may try to pass Senate health-care bill without voting on it - Washington Post

After laying the groundwork for a decisive vote this week on the Senate's health-care bill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested Monday that she might attempt to pass the measure without having members vote on it.

Anthem Blue Cross should reimburse California man for transplant, jury says - LA Times

The insurer had refused to cover the liver surgery after Ephram Nehme decided to go out of state to face a shorter waiting list. Panelists in L.A. also say Blue Cross should pay Nehme's legal fees.

Obama Tries to Personalize the Health Care Bill - New York Times

Declaring that “every argument has been made” on his health care overhaul, President Obama sought to seal the deal with Congress and the American people Monday by focusing on a single patient: a self-employed cleaning woman who dropped her costly insurance plan and just discovered she has leukemia.

Liberals warn Dems on health care - Politico

Labor and progressive leaders are threatening House Democrats who oppose health care legislation with potentially destructive third party challenges in November.

OPINION

Beware of Republicans bearing political advice - Salon

As Congress prepares to pass healthcare reform, the GOP predicts electoral doom. Why are Democrats listening?

Pelosi: Bill Will Prevent Insurers From Imposing Unreasonable Premiums Before Reforms Begin - Think Progress

This morning, during a discussion about health reform with progressive bloggers, I asked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) if the Senate health care bill did enough to prevent insurers from jacking up health care rates between now and 2014, (when the exchanges become operational). Noting that insurers could circumvent President Obama’s proposed national rate review authority by shifting more costs into deductibles and co-payments, I pressed Pelosi on whether the reconciliation package strengthened the President’s language or included new provisions to prevent insurers from increasing rates in anticipation of the new regulations.

What Will Happen If There Is No Reform - Media Matters

A new report released today by the Urban Institute's Health Policy Center details the acute problems we will face if comprehensive health care reform is not enacted.  The reports notes, "if federal reform efforts fail, over the next decade, the percent of the population that is uninsured will increase, employer-sponsored coverage will continue to erode, spending on public programs will balloon, and individual and family out-of-pocket costs will rise."  The researchers, led by John Holahan, examined the present system and concluded that even under the best possible scenario, the current health care delivery system would be unsustainable.