Latest KFF Health News Stories
Refresher: What’s In The Health Reform Bills
Since the Senate passed its version of a health overhaul Christmas Eve, most of the debate has focused on the politics of the effort. By now, many people have forgotten – if they ever knew – what the bill would actually do.
Transcript: Health On The Hill – What’s Ahead This Week
President Obama will visit Philadelphia and St. Louis this week to continue his push to have Congress pass health overhaul legislation this month.
Health Bill Opponents Mount Full-Court Press
Lawmakers are under intense pressure in the health care debate. The president is hitting the road to reassure nervous House members and shore up support for his plan. Republicans are taking their opposition to the bill directly to the voters, too.
The President’s Health Plan Won’t Cut the Budget Deficit
One of the central arguments President Barack Obama has made on behalf of the health care plan he wants Congress to approve in coming weeks is that it would begin to address the problem of rising costs and thus also begin to bring down future federal budget deficits. But will it?
Some Small Businesses See Burden In “Cadillac” Tax
A proposed tax on high-cost insurance plans could make it more difficult for small businesses to purchase health coverage. Even though many businesses don’t offer rich benefits, their plans may be costly because the covered employees are predominantly older, sicker or female, three categories that currently result in higher premiums. Other provisions in health overall legislation could mitigate the impact of the tax, however.
Highlights: Obama’s Speech On Moving Forward With Health Reform
This video highlights President Obama’s new proposal for health reform, which includes changes to what he calls the “worst practices” of insurance companies and efforts to control rising health care costs.
Full Speech: Obama On Insurance Reform
President Obama presented his new proposal on health reform Wednesday afternoon. Read his full speech here.
Excerpts Of President Obama’s Remarks: ‘This Is Where We’ve Ended Up’
The White House released selected remarks in advance of the President’s speech later this afternoon.
Post-Health Summit, Obama Sends Letter To Pelosi, Reid, Boehner, McConnell
The President’s letter to congressional leaders highlighted what he called areas of agreement between the Democrats and the Republicans on health reform proposals.
Transcript: Health On The Hill
House and Senate Democratic leaders continue to determine support in their chambers for moving health care legislation by using the budget reconciliation process, which would allow the measure to be approved in the Senate by 51 votes rather than a filibuster-proof 60 vote margin.
Health On The Hill – March 1, 2010
House and Senate Democratic leaders continue to determine support in their chambers for moving health care legislation by using the budget reconciliation process, which would allow the measure to be approved in the Senate by 51 votes rather than a filibuster-proof 60 vote margin. President Obama is expected to announce some changes to the health care plan he unveiled last week that is hoped to bring more support for the package.
Post-Summit Health Reform: What A Mess
The White House health summit looks to this observer as a draw. Neither side scored any knockout blows.
Health On The Hill: After The Summit
A health care summit between President Obama, Republicans and Democrats ended with the president laying out some areas of consensus between the two parties but many disagreements remain.
Health Care Summit – Rep. Peter Roskam, R-Ill. and Closing Remarks
Towards the end of the health summit, Rep. Peter Roskam, R-Ill., urged the Democrats to start over on health reform. In wrapping up, President Barack Obama rejected that notion, saying “we cannot have another year-long debate about this.”
Health Care Summit – Exchange Between Rep. Eric Cantor and President Obama
In this video, Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., and President Obama discuss elements of health care reform during the White House health care summit.
Health Care Summit – Excerpts of Opening Remarks
This video highlights President Obama’s opening remarks at the White House health care summit.
Democrats Face Internal Battles Over Health Care
Democrats can’t use reconciliation to pass a bill until they end disputes within their own ranks.
Health Care No Stranger To Congressional Budget Reconciliation Process
To get health reform passed, Democrats could use a process called budget reconciliation, which allows them to advance the bill with a simple majority. Republicans say the process was not designed for such a large bill, but reconciliation has often been used to move major health policy.
Analysis: Health Lobbyists’ Powerful Impact On Reform Bills
A Center for Public Integrity analysis shows that more than 1,750 a diverse list of companies and organizations hired about 4,525 lobbyists to influence health reform bills in 2009.
Just days before a bipartisan White House summit on health care, President Obama unveiled a proposal that closely tracks the Senate-passed health legislation with some modifications.
