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After weeks of painstaking talks, Democrats celebrated breakthroughs on health care overhaul on both sides of the Capitol. Yet many lawmakers and health care experts said that yesterday's events marked only one step on the very bumpy road to a final deal that President Barack Obama might sign into law.
Unions and advocates for low-income workers are criticizing a possible Senate Finance Committee move to drop an employer mandate in favor of a "free-rider" penalty. The provision would require companies to pay for part of the subsidies for uninsured workers to buy health insurance on the proposed exchanges. Business lobbyists say it's better than a straight mandate.
Jackie Judd talks with Eric Pianin, reporting from Capitol Hill, on today's significant developments. A stalemate between Blue Dogs and House Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Henry Waxman was broken, and in the Senate Finance Committee, a new CBO score was substantially less than what had been projected. Listen to the Interview
The little-known crime of medical identity theft can cause havoc - victims end up with big bills and wrong medical records. A new federal "Red Flags Rule" would require physician offices, among other businesses, to spot phony IDs. Doctors protest that the regulation could have "serious adverse consequences" for patients, even as the government tries to protect them.
Jackie Judd talks with Eric Pianin, reporting from Capitol Hill, on today's significant developments. A stalemate between Blue Dogs and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman was broken, and in the Senate Finance Committee, a new CBO score was substantially less than what had been projected.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., said Wednesday that a preliminary Congressional Budget Office score of his panel's draft health care overhaul package would cost under $900 billion over the next decade and provide health coverage to 95 percent of uninsured Americans.
There are ways to reduce expensive diseases, but they must be deployed strategically. This story comes from our partner NPR News.
To raise money to help pay for a health overhaul, Sen. John Kerry is proposing taxing insurance companies on expensive "Cadillac" policies. A new group of opponents is emerging: employers who "self-insure." They say they shouldn't have to pay taxes on the benefits they give their workers.
Mary Agnes Carey and Eric Pianin of Kaiser Health News provide an update on health overhaul negotiations on Capitol Hill.
Mary Agnes Carey and Eric Pianin of Kaiser Health News provide an update on health overhaul negotiations on Capitol Hill.
A study published earlier this year finds 1 out of 5 older patients who are discharged from a hospital will return within a month, costing Medicare about $17 billion a year. A program in Philadelphia assigns nurses to follow up with discharged patients in order to prevent readmission. This story comes from our partner NPR News.
Consumer and patients' groups criticize proposal that would let employers bestow bigger premium discounts on employees who embrace wellness programs.
Mary Agnes Carey discusses the possibility of a House floor vote, the 'gang of six' on the Senate Finance Committee and other health overhaul activity on Capitol Hill this week.
In today's Health On The Hill, Jackie Judd talks to Kaiser Health News' Mary Agnes Carey about what will be a crucial week for health care legislation.
The problem with putting together a big proposal - like overhauling the nation's entire health care system - with lots of moving parts and many different interests to please, is that every time you satisfy one important constituency, you upset another.
As efforts continue to trim the cost of health reform, some lawmakers and patient groups are worried that the resulting insurance benefits will be less generous and affordable than they had hoped. Fiscal conservatives counter that Congress needs to be realistic about what the country can afford.
Do the Democratic plans in Congress ask for changes that qualify as a "sacrifice"?
Two senators - Democrat Ron Wyden and Republican Bob Bennett say they have a health care solution, but are they too junior to get attention?
As Senate Democrats scramble to finance an ambitious health care overhaul, they're exploring ways to get extract money from the insurance industry, including taxing very costly policies. They're also considering tacking a fee onto every new policy sold as a result of health reform or a flat tax on insurer profits.
Emanuel, the White House chief of staff, says "We will have a bill by the end of the year for the president to sign on health care that controls costs, expands coverage and provides choice."
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