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A leader of the Blue Dog Coalition of conservative House Democrats said today that he and six others in the group will vote together to block health care legislation in committee unless changes are made to slow the rate of growth of federal health care spending and to ensure that rural hospitals are adequately reimbursed for treating new patients under the legislation.
A leader of the Blue Dog Coalition of conservative House Democrats says he and six others in the group would vote together to block the health overhaul bill in the Energy and Commerce Committee unless changes were made to slow the rate of growth of federal health care spending, a concern raised by CBO Director Elmendorf yesterday.
Dennis Rivera is spearheading the Service Employees International Union's political campaign to influence the health care debate. He discusses what the country's largest health care union, with 1.1 million members, is trying to accomplish.
President Obama has outsourced the writing of health care reform to Congress. What does that mean for the legislation?
Hospital officials today agreed to federal-payment cuts to help pay for a health care overhaul. They hope their concessions will build good will with the Obama administration and Democratic lawmakers. They're pressing for action on a host of other issues, including Medicaid reimbursements and funding for graduate medical education.
Rep. Mike Ross grew up in tiny Prescott, Ark., and knows well the problems of many residents who can't afford health care insurance and have trouble getting access to hospitals and doctors. Yet Ross, a leader of the Blue Dog Democrats, stands ready to try to block passage of a health care reform bill in the House that might help his constituents; he complains the bill doesn't adequately contain costs or help rural areas enough.
Much of the health care reform debate centers on the Democratic push to create a government-run insurance option for working age Americans and their families. But shouldn't policymakers take a hard look at Medicare--the largest health insurance program in the country--before moving ahead to create something similar for everyone else?
Sen. Ted Kennedy is vowing to make long-term care insurance part of health reform. But even he has an uphill struggle to make sure it's included in any broad-based bill.
A transcript of President Barack Obama's address to Congress on his health care reform proposals.
Partisan health reform fights have focused on a handful of concerns: the proposed public health insurance plan, individual and employer mandates, financing measures to subsidize low-income Americans and to cover the uninsured. As a combatant in some of these fights, I'm not one to say the partisan conflict is misplaced.
To encourage people to buy long-term care insurance, more states are starting programs that allow people to keep some assets if they exhaust insurance benefits and need to go on Medicaid. Without such an arrangement, they would have to "spend down" assets to qualify for Medicaid. But, experts warn, the policies need strong inflation protections.
Medicaid's role in health reform is emerging as a flash point, exposing policy and political rifts not only between the two parties but also among Democrats themselves.
Senate Democrats release health care bill leaving out--for the moment--two of the most contentious items, while promising more talks with Republicans. Meanwhile, in the House, chairmen of three committees brief fellow Democrats on the contours of their bill.
Doctors say lack of health insurance and not enough time with patients are major problems.
The White House released a transcript of President Barack Obama's town hall meeting in Belgrade, Montana. He begins with prepared remarks and then answers questions from the audience.
With many people strapped for cash, barter "exchanges" for health care is providing a temporary safety net of sorts for some workers who have lost their jobs and health coverage. And in some cases, people who have inadequate insurance are using barter to get critical services, such as dental and vision benefits.
Will allowing younger people to buy coverage ease a health-care problem or break an already overburdened program?
Emergency room doctors noticed the difference. Many of their "super user" patients weren't coming around much anymore.
The Clifford's struggle to pay for treatment of their serious medical problems.
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