Latest Morning Briefing Stories
Democrats Seek Right Message To Boost Health Law
For Republicans intent on repealing the new health care law, the message has been simple: It’s bad. Democrats, on the other hand, have had a much more difficult job selling the merits of the law — often doing more to confuse than to enthuse the public.
Text: Health Law Repeal Bill And House ‘Resolution’ On Replacing The Law
This document contains the text of the bill to repeal the health law and a Republican resolution “instructing certain committees to report legislation replacing” the law.
State Legislators Push To Penalize Officials For Implementing Health Overhaul
In several states, lawmakers are advancing bills that would make it illegal for state officials to put the federal health overhaul into place. Even if the bills become state laws, though, they would likely be found unconstitutional.
A New ‘Definition’ For Health Care Reform
Pursuing health reforms that transform current health insurance arrangements into aproaches based on defined contributions will set in motion a competitive dynamic from which all Americans would benefit.
Federal Funds Allowed States To Maintain Health Care For Poor Children
Even while dealing with crippling deficits, state Medicaid and CHIP programs used stimulus funds in 2010 to keep enrollment steady for children, a new report finds.
The CBO Is Telling Us Something. Is Anybody Listening?
A signficant shortcoming in the current debate about whether the health overhaul really reduces the federal deficit is that it fails to recognize the underlying problem and address it.
Obama Administration’s Balancing Act: Health Insurance Benefits Vs. Costs
Advocacy groups are lobbying as government advisory panel tackles key question: What benefits must insurers cover?
Some States Have Options To Help Consumers Find Individual Health Coverage
For people who can’t get insurance through work, finding a plan is often difficult. In addition to the high-risk pools that have recently generated a lot of attention, other options may be available, depending on which state a consumer lives in.
Health On The Hill Transcript: GOP, White House Tussle On Cost Of Law’s Repeal
Lawmakers are at odds over a Congressional Budget Office estimate that found repealing the new health law would add $230 billion to the deficit over the next decade.
Video: Delayed, Lawmakers Fight Over Cost Of Repeal
The House floor vote to repeal the health care law previously scheduled for Jan. 12 has been postponed due to the shooting in Arizona. Meanwhile, Democrats and Republicans are at odds over a Congressional Budget Office estimate that found repealing the law would add $230 billion to the deficit over the next decade. Republicans say if the law is fully implemented it would cost taxpayers more than $700 billion.
Can We Stop Calling Them ‘Consumer Protections’ Now?
These supposed “consumer protections” are hurting millions of Americans by increasing the cost of insurance and the cost of hiring, as well as driving insurers out of business. They should be called what they really are: regulations that can hurt even more than they help.
Insurers Clash With Hospitals And Doctors Over ACO Rules
Powerful interests that are supposed to create and run the health law’s new accountable care organizations are fighting over what the rules governing ACOs should say.
Zeke Emanuel, Adviser On Health Reform, Leaves White House
Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, a health care adviser in the Office of Management and Budget and brother of Rahm Emanuel, returned to his post at the National Institutes of Health this week.
Obama Health Care Officials Switch Jobs, Reorganize
Besides an array of health care challenges, the new year is bringing changes in the staff putting the new law into effect.
The Avastin Decision: A Rational Decision Or Rationing?
Sometimes the noisiest voices in the health overhaul debate don’t make a good faith effort to acknowledge important scientific or policy-oriented nuances in their arguments. It’s happening again in the wake of a controversial regulatory ruling about a cancer drug.
Transcript: Republicans Schedule Health Law Repeal Vote
House Republicans have scheduled a Jan. 12 vote to repeal the health care law. While the measure is expected to pass the House, Democrats in the Senate have pledged to stop the bill.
Video: Republicans Promise Health Law Repeal Vote
Repealing the health law is one of the House Republicans’ top priorities. While the repeal is expected to pass the House, Democrats in the Senate have pledged to stop the bill.
Improving The Health Law In 2011: Realistic Ways To Reach Bipartisan Compromise
There are ways for Democrats and Republicans to agree to improve the new health care law in 2011.
Insurers Sometimes Reject Neonatal Intensive Care Costs
In these specialized units for premature infants or babies with special needs, the doctors and other personnel may not be under contract with an insurer’s network even though the hospital is covered.
The lack of an inspiring name for the health care law complicates Democrats’ efforts to gain public support.
