Health Care For America Now

NEWS

Health Bill Garners Endorsements - Wall Street Journal

AARP and AMA Give Backing to House Measure as Planned Saturday Vote Approaches

White House backs House bill - Politico

The White House will come out strongly in support of the House bill on Friday, an administration source tells POLITICO. The statement of administration policy will lay out the reasons that President Obama endorses the bill.

Two rallies back health-care bill - Jonesboro Sun

“We want reform. We want it now.”

That was the battle cry of about 35 health insurance reform advocates who gathered outside the Craighead County Courthouse on Wednesday at noon.

Democrats Pose Health Bill Hurdle - Wall Street Journal

Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu says she generally backs President Barack Obama's health-care overhaul efforts. But she'd like to see a few items in the bill before voting for it, including bigger federal Medicaid payments for her home state of Louisiana, extended health coverage for her pet cause of foster children, and help for teaching hospitals in her state.

Health care opponents intensify late attack - Boston Globe

The sweeping health care overhaul package before Congress is under an 11th-hour attack over a pair of emotional issues, abortion and immigration, that are complicating Democrats’ efforts to piece together the coalition they need to pass the bill.

As It Turns Out, Republicans Don't Want Americans To Have Health Care After All - Media Matters

After months of blustering and bluffing, the Republicans have finally released their health care reform proposals.  And while the legislation costs less than the Democratic plan, the Republicans failed to write any language that would ensure coverage for more Americans, ease the financial burden for families, or even prevent insurance companies from denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions.

NEWS

House expected to vote on health bill Saturday - Washington Post

House leaders put in motion the machinery to hold a rare Saturday vote on the most far-reaching expansion of the health-care system in more than 40 years.

Budget analysts say GOP bill would do little to expand health insurance coverage - Washington Post

The long-awaited Republican entry in the health care debate received its assessment late Wednesday from congressional budget analysts, who concluded that the proposal would barely dent the ranks of the uninsured.

Dems want to seize historic moment - Politico

Health care is big for House Democrats: big like Social Security in the ’30s and civil rights in the ’60s, big like the war stories retold now in party caucuses as lawmakers grapple with the floor vote that is just days away.

AP sources: Dem Health bill to get AARP backing - Washington Post

In a coup for House Democrats, AARP will endorse sweeping health care overhaul legislation headed for a history-making floor vote, officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Michele Bachmann to protesters: 'Scare' Congress - Politico

In a conference call Wednesday night with bloggers and activists for the advocacy group Americans for Prosperity, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) called on protesters to “scare” members of Congress into killing the proposed health care reform bill.

60 Plus Ad Uses The Greatest Generation's Achievements To Scare People Into Opposing Reform - Media Matters

The right-wing seniors' group 60 Plus has put together a new ad opposing health care reform.  Instead of providing seniors with the correct information that health care reform will benefit them and their families, 60 Plus chose to use scare tactics to inspire America's seniors to fight progressive health care reform.

NEWS

Democrats file final House health bill; Friday vote possible - The Hill

The vote on the House's healthcare reform legislation will not be held until Friday evening at the earliest.

House Republicans angry about leak - The Hill

House Republican leaders were furious that their healthcare reform alternative was leaked to the media on Tuesday.

Senate moderates flex muscle on health-care bill - Washington Post

Moderate lawmakers are exerting their outsize influence in the divided Senate to secure changes to health-care reform legislation, potentially adding more delays to a bill that has already missed several announced deadlines.

G.O.P. Counters With a Health Plan of Its Own - New York Times

House Republicans have come up with an answer to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, drafting an alternative health care bill that would reward states for reducing the number of uninsured, limit damages in medical malpractice lawsuits and allow small businesses to band together and buy insurance exempt from most state regulation.

Harkin asks big health insurers to explain their rate practices - Des Moines Register

Sen. Tom Harkin said Tuesday he was launching an investigation into health insurance pricing, asking four major insurers to justify their pricing practices.

Why Health Insurance Charges Are Going Up - Forbes

Nancy Pelosi may be the HMOs' Grinch this year, continuing to push a public option that could eventually damper profits, but at the moment, the industry is looking healthy.

Democrats whipping on abortion compromise to save health bill - The Hill

Democratic House leaders have developed a compromise they hope will resolve an intra-caucus dispute about whether the health bill allows tax dollars to subsidize abortions, and they’re surveying abortion-rights opponents in the caucus to gauge support.

THE INFLUENCE GAME: Liberals targeting moderates - Associated Press

Get on the health overhaul bandwagon, or don't count on our help in your re-election.

NEWS

Senate Pressing Insurers on the Amount of Premiums They Spend on Care - The New York Times

The health insurance industry likes to cite figures showing that 87 cents of every dollar in premiums is spent on medical claims.

GOP Health Care Bill WON'T Prevent Insurance Companies From Denying Sick People - Huffington Post

Republicans are preparing to unveil their own health bill in the next few days. Minority Leader John Boehner (R., Ohio) said Monday that the plan wouldn't seek to prevent health-insurance companies from denying sick people insurance — a key plank of the Democrats' legislation.

Reid reassures left Lieberman on board - The Hill

Sen. Joe Lieberman has reached a private understanding with Majority Leader Harry Reid that he will not block a final vote on healthcare reform, according to two sources briefed on the matter.

Democrats Say House Bill Cuts Premiums for Many - New York Times

As the House moved toward climactic votes on legislation to remake the health care system, the Congressional Budget Office said Monday that middle-income families might be required to pay 15 percent to 18 percent of their income on insurance premiums and co-payments under the proposal.

As votes near, insurers make last stand - Politico

When the insurance industry launched the first full-scale attack on key provisions of health reform, the Democrats’ response was swift, brutal and aimed squarely at Karen Ignagni, a former Democratic Capitol Hill aide who is now the industry’s top lobbyist.

Pelosi picks up centrist ‘yes’ votes - The Hill

Centrist Democrats in the House are moving toward the “yes” column on healthcare reform, triggering optimism among leadership officials that they will soon have the votes to pass their $894-billion measure.

NEWS

Jarrett: Obama Won't Break Middle Class Tax Pledge - ABC

Senior White House Counsel Valerie Jarrett told me this morning that the President will keep to his pledge not to tax the middle class to pass his health care package.  “He’s confident that a bill will be passed consistent with his parameters.”

GOP Set to Propose Its Own Health Bill - Wall Street Journal

Republicans are preparing an alternative health-care bill to Democratic legislation, House Republican Leader John Boehner said, marking a shift in strategy as the full House is set to begin debate on the issue this week.

Lieberman: No reform at all is better than a public option - Washington Post

Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) said Sunday that no health-care reform bill at all is better than legislation that includes some form of a government-run public option.

Obama Strategy on Health Care Legislation Appears to Be Paying Off - New York Times

After months of plodding work by five Congressional committees and weeks of back-room bargaining by Democratic leaders, President Obama’s arms-length strategy on health care appears to be paying dividends, with the House and the Senate poised to take up legislation to insure nearly all Americans.

Lieberman In '94: The Filibuster "Ails Washington" And Should Be Eliminated - Huffington Post

Senator Joseph Lieberman's (I-Conn) threat to filibuster health care legislation that includes a public option for insurance coverage has sent minor shock-waves throughout Washington.

Health insurer Anthem's market share swells - Indianapolis Business Journal

With Congress bringing back the idea of a government-run insurance plan, or public option, the debate is on again whether there’s sufficient competition and choice in the health insurance market.

Rep. Boehner Falsely Claims Republicans Have Been "Ready To Work" With Democrats On Health Care - Media Matters

During the weekly Republican address airing on October 31, 2009, House Minority Leader John Boehner tried to convince Americans that the GOP had been "ready to work" with Democrats "whenever possible," including on health care. That is far from the case.

NEWS

Buoyant Democrats Unveil Health Care Legislation - New York Times

House Democrats on Thursday unveiled their bill to remake the health care system and said they had the votes to pass it. But Republicans said gimmicks had been used to hide the measure’s long-term costs.

Protesters pose grim outlook on health care - Sparks Tribune

Despite another low turnout, a familiar core of local activists stubbornly rallied for government health insurance reform at Thursday's "Have a Heart, Save Lives" event. Some protesters wore scary Halloween costumes, accessories or makeup to illustrate what they believe could be the grim consequences of inaction on health care.

Reid Calls On Americans: "Contact Your Representatives Back Here In Washington And Push Hard" - Huffington Post

Harry Reid, in a new Web video posted Thursday, makes the case for a public health insurance option and appeals to voters across the country to contact Washington to "push hard" for its inclusion in the final bill.

House bill greatly expands health care coverage - San Francisco Chronicle

There was rock music instead of trumpets as Speaker Nancy Pelosi and fellow House Democrats used every flourish Thursday to frame their new $894 billion health care measure as historic legislation on par with the creation of Social Security in 1935 and Medicare in 1965.

Conrad: I Will Vote To Bring Health Care Bill To Debate, And My Colleagues Should Do Same - Greg Sargent

In another step forward for health care reform, a key moderate Dem Senator says he will vote to bring the bill with a public option and an opt-out to the floor — getting the bill past a key procedural vote — and suggested his colleagues should do the same.

Drug Makers Face Tougher Measures - Wall Street Journal

The House health-care bill presents more problems for drug makers than legislation in the Senate, but it gives the medical-device industry better breaks.

U.S. Chamber Of Commerce Recycles Old Ad For New Attack On Health Care Reform - Media Matters

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has revamped an old ad from the summer to continue its fight against progressive health care reform.  However, just like before, the ad falls flat on facts.

Opt-out divides Schumer and Emanuel - Politico

Chuck Schumer and Rahm Emanuel, the architects of the Democrats’ historic take-back of Congress in 2006, talk to each other nearly every day in abrupt, Morse code bursts stripped of hellos, goodbyes and thank-yous.

NEWS

House health-care reform bill to include public option - Washington Post

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will unveil a health-care reform bill on Thursday that includes a government insurance option and a historic expansion of Medicaid, although sticking points in the legislation involving abortion and immigration remain unresolved.

Finance Bill’s Fine Print May Cause Sticker Shock For Some Consumers - Kaiser Health News

Proponents of the Senate Finance Committee’s health care bill say the legislation will limit the amount that lower- and middle-income people must pay for health insurance to a maximum of 12 percent of their incomes.

Reid's Math: Liberal Fans Exceed Public-Plan Foes - Wall Street Journal

Some of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's colleagues were surprised by his decision this week to include a government-run health-care plan in the Democrats' bill.

Sen. Lieberman's Friendly Relationship With The Health Care Industry - Media Matters

In light of the Independent Senator from Connecticut's revelation that he will try to block Democratic health care reform, Media Matters Action Network highlights Sen. Lieberman's past relationship with the private health care industry.

Business Groups Push Hard Against the Senate Bill - Wall Street Journal

Employers are blasting the Senate's plan to create a new public health-insurance program — a sign of how businesses are becoming increasingly uneasy about Democrats' proposals to overhaul the health system.

NEWS

Reid doesn’t have health votes — yet - The Hill

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is short of enough votes to pass a Senate healthcare bill with a government-run health insurance option with only Democratic support.

Hoyer: House Dems on the verge of bringing healthcare bill to the floor - The Hill

House Democrats are days, if not hours, away from introducing the healthcare bill that will make it to the floor, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Tuesday.

Lamont: Lieberman "Dithering" On Health Care - Huffington Post

One of Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) most strident critics accused him of "dithering" on health care reform after the Independent stated that he would consider sustaining a filibuster of the legislation.

A Delicate Dance for 2 Health Lobbyists - New York Times

One is a smooth-talking former congressman from Louisiana — “the Swamp Fox,” constituents called him — who relishes his image as a rascal, a charmer and a Cajun raconteur. The other is a fireman’s daughter from working-class Rhode Island, strait-laced and studious, who mastered the arcane world of health policy as an analyst for the A.F.L.-C.I.O.

Public likes public option for healthcare. Joe Lieberman doesn’t. - Christian Science Monitor

Poll results tend to show that voters approve of the public option for healthcare. But senators like Joe Lieberman could vote the other way.

NEWS

Reid says bill will include a public option - Washington Post

Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid announced Monday that he will include a government-backed insurance plan in the chamber's health-care reform legislation, a key concession to liberals who have threatened to oppose a bill without such a public option.

Unions win concessions but fight on - The Hill

Organized labor is flexing its muscle in Senate negotiations over healthcare reform and winning important concessions from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

Durbin: Progressives Forced Our Hand On Public Option - Huffington Post

Democratic leaders were forced to include a national public health insurance option as part of health care reform by progressive Democratic senators who refused to support anything less, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said on Monday.

Liberals to Barack Obama: Time to step up - Politico

Now that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has announced he’ll try to push through a health care reform bill with a public option, liberals are turning their focus — and their frustrations — on Barack Obama, the man who brought them to the outskirts of the progressive promise land.

Republicans impatient with leaders, awaiting healthcare alternative - The Hill

Some House Republicans are growing frustrated that their leaders have not yet introduced a healthcare reform alternative.

BlueCross BlueShield Opposes Reforms That Would Cut Into Their Monopoly - Media Matters

In an attempt to drum up opposition to Democratic proposals for health care reform, one of the country's biggest private insurers has sent a mailer (with prepaid return postage!) to incite its policyholders to fight against reform.

NEWS

Democrats Are Optimistic That Public Option Will Be Approved - New York Times

Several Democratic senators voiced optimism on Sunday that Congress would pass a health care bill containing at least the germ of a government-run insurance program. Their expectations were grudgingly seconded by Senator John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate in 2008.

Congress' health care bills leave millions uninsured - USA Today

The high cost of health insurance premiums would continue to put coverage out of reach for millions even if Congress approves legislation President Obama says is intended to ensure "that every American has affordable health care."

Insurers poised to reap benefits from healthcare overhaul - LA Times

Reporting from Los Angeles and Washington -  As President Obama's push for a healthcare overhaul moves toward its final act, the oft-vilified health insurance industry is on the verge of seeing a plan enacted that largely protects its financial interests.

Leaderless: Senate Pushes For Public Option Without Obama's Support - Huffington Post

President Barack Obama is actively discouraging Senate Democrats in their effort to include a public insurance option with a state opt-out clause as part of health care reform. In its place, say multiple Democratic sources, Obama has indicated a preference for an alternative policy, favored by the insurance industry, which would see a public plan "triggered" into effect in the future by a failure of the industry to meet certain benchmarks.

The Public Option: Rumor Check - WhiteHouse.gov

A rumor is making the rounds that the White House and Senator Reid are pursuing different strategies on the public option.  Those rumors are absolutely false.

Dems push for benefits to start by 2010 - Politico

Democrats are pushing Senate leaders and the White House to speed up key benefits in the health reform bill to 2010, eager to give the party something to show taxpayers for their $900 billion investment in an election year.

AP sources: Health bill may cut employer mandate - Associated Press

Businesses would not be required to provide health insurance under legislation being readied for Senate debate, but large firms would owe significant penalties if any worker needed government subsidies to buy coverage on their own, according to Democratic officials familiar with talks on the bill.