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Those who want a health reform bill passed by Christmas fear that if that doesn’t happen, there could be a repeat of the brutal August town hall meetings. Others don’t think the situation is so dire and say that Democrats could deliver the bill to Obama by the spring.
House Democrats late Tuesday released a 42-page “manager’s amendment” to accompany their health care legislation.
Republicans in the House of Representatives have legislation they say is a less expensive alternative to the Democrats’ health overhaul bill. They plan to introduce it as an amendment in the next week.
Successful demonstration projects are often derailed by objections from hospitals, doctors and other providers —
Lawmakers thought they had crafted “abortion-neutral language,” essentially maintaining the status quo, but neither side of the debate is happy. And the issue is causing headaches for the Catholic Church, where opposition to abortion is running headlong into support for a health overhaul.
House Democrats are expected to begin floor debate this week on their health care overhaul plan and House Republicans are expected to unveil an alternative measure.
House Democrats are expected to begin floor debate this week on their health care overhaul plan and House Republicans are expected to unveil an alternative measure.
Despite all the controversy, a new Congressional Budget Office estimate indicates that relatively few people would be helped by a public health insurance plan. Any “opt-out” provision means at least some states are likely to bar a government-backed plan within their borders.
Lately conservatives have been making an argument you should hear. It’s about whether we can believe Congress when it promises to raise taxes or cut spending–and, as such, whether we can believe that health care reform can actually be fiscally responsible.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says Democrats will “deliver on the promise of making affordable, quality health care available for all Americans” with a sweeping health reform bill.
KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey discusses the latest health reform proposal unveiled by House Democratic leaders. A transcript is also available.
The federal government could treat Indian Country, at least for health programs, as the 51st state.
Legislation seeks to limit the amount low-and middle-income people will pay for health insurance. But a shift in the way their share of the premium is calculated in the second year of the program may make it more expensive.
Nearly all seniors are covered through Medicare, but legislators still need their support for a health care overhaul bill. Democrats have packed their bills with perks for seniors in an effort to win their backing, but they’re not doing a good p.r. job, one public opinion expert says. This story comes from our partner NPR News.
In drafting national standards on how health insurers should be able to use age to set premium rates, congressional committees agree that older people should pay more. But they differ widely on just how much. Ultimately, it comes down to how many young adults get into the pool.
As part of the economic stimulus, the government offered subsidies so laid-off workers could keep their health insurance. For some, the subsidies are running out.
With growing signs that health reform bills would do little to “bend the cost curve,” Sens. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., and Kent Conrad, D-N.D., want a bipartisan commission to control future Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security costs.
KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey and Eric Pianin talk about new optimism among liberal Democrats that a public option will be included in the final health overhaul bill. They also discuss Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s determination to have a bill soon.
KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey and Eric Pianin talk about new optimism among liberal Democrats that a public option will be included in the final health overhaul bill. They also discuss Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s determination to have a bill soon.
When Congress tried to fix a glitch in Medicare that threatens to cut payments to doctors, senators refused to take up the bill because it didn’t include a way to offset the estimated $245 billion, 10-year cost. Both Democrats and Republicans are claiming that previous “fixes” for the Medicare doctor fee problem were paid for, but actually they weren’t.
