Health On The Hill
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.
All Coverage
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Analysis: Public Option Might Play Only Minor Role In Changing Health Care
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.
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Opinion Column
Take This Conservative Argument Seriously
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.
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House Health Reform Bill Contains Public Option, Promises Coverage For 36 Million Uninsured
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.
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Audio: Health On The Hill – House Health Bill Explained
KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey discusses the latest health reform proposal unveiled by House Democratic leaders. A transcript is also available.
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Opinion Column
A Practical Reform: Indian Country As The 51st State
The federal government could treat Indian Country, at least for health programs, as the 51st state.
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Finance Bill’s Fine Print May Cause Sticker Shock For Some Consumers
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.
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In Health Debate, Both Sides Vie For Seniors’ Support
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.
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Health Care Pools: Let Youth Jump, Or Push Them?
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.
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End Of COBRA Subsidy Rattles Newly Unemployed
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.
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Lawmakers, White House Consider Bipartisan Route To Bend Health ‘Cost Curve’
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.
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Transcript: Health On The Hill – October 26, 2009
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.
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Health On The Hill
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.
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Politics Aside, Annual Medicare Fix Is Same Old Story
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.
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Opinion Column
Aging In Place Is Not So Easy
We’ll never keep everyone at home. But if we work at it, we can postpone the transition for months or even years.
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An Experiment In Reducing Costs, Improving Care At Hillcrest Medical Center
Seventy-six year old Frank Morrow is not only having his knee replaced at Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He’s also helping to test a Medicare payment system.
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Tulsa Hospital Gives Medicare Patients Cash Back For Surgery
At Hillcrest Medical Center, which is testing a “bundled” Medicare payment system, some seniors get paid up to $1,157 for having surgery. The pilot program aims to save money and improve care by paying doctors and hospitals a lump sum and rewards the patients with part of the savings.
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Fight Erupts Over Health Insurance Rates For Businesses With More Women
Advocates for women are fighting to end gender rating in larger businesses as health overhaul legislation moves through Congress. But insurers say it’s necessary to use gender as a means of setting rates for this market.
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Democrats Push To End Insurers’ Antitrust Exemption
The relationship between the Democrats and health insurers has turned ugly since the industry began to spurn the health care makeover it once supported. Now, some members of Congress Democrats want to strip the industry’s exemption from federal antitrust laws.
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How Health Reform Bills Would – And Wouldn’t – Affect Illegal Immigrants
This brief explainer examines the number of uninsured illegal immigrants, where they go for health services and how they would fare if current health reform proposals pass.
