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Obama Administration Healthcare News

AMGA official sees reform passing

Chester “Chet” Speed By Andis Robeznieks | March 19, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
Near the end of a more than one hour discussion on federal healthcare reform legislation at the American Medical Group Association's annual meeting... FULL STORY »

AMA backs healthcare reform bill

 Rohack By Jennifer Lubell | March 19, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
The American Medical Association supports the sweeping $940 billion healthcare reform bill scheduled for consideration on the House floor on Sunday,... FULL STORY »

Votes will be there, Democrats say

House Majority Whip James Clyburn By Jennifer Lubell | March 19, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
House Democrats waxed optimistic that healthcare reform legislation will pass their chamber this Sunday, as more undecided lawmakers in the party... FULL STORY »

Reform package cost pegged at $940 billion

Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.) By Matthew DoBias | March 18, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
Senior House Democrats said that a legislative package aimed at changing the way healthcare is delivered and paid for would cost roughly $940 billion... FULL STORY »

AFL-CIO backs reform package

Richard Trumka By Jennifer Lubell | March 18, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
The AFL-CIO has decided to support the Democrats’ sweeping health reform legislation, its president Richard Trumka said during a teleconference. FULL STORY »

Healthcare reform vote expected Sunday

By Matthew DoBias | March 18, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer outlined a rare weekend schedule for lawmakers in the House, with a vote on a $940 billion health overhaul package... FULL STORY »

GOP maps strategy to fight reform

John Boehner By Jennifer Lubell | March 18, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
House and Senate Republicans met to strategize on killing the Democrat's $940 billion healthcare package that's slated for a final vote in the House... FULL STORY »

Kucinich says he'll back reform package

Rep. Dennis Kucinich By Matthew DoBias | March 17, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
Citing the very future of Barack Obama's presidency and the urgent needs of his own constituents, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), a strident critic of... FULL STORY »

Dems tout policy; GOP attacks process

By Matthew DoBias | March 16, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
In a week that could see a conclusive vote on healthcare in the House, the two parties spent Tuesday sharpening their final messages, with Democrats... FULL STORY »

Hoyer floats no-vote maneuver

By Jennifer Lubell | March 16, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
Democrats will not be breaking any rules if they decide to approve the Senate healthcare reform bill through a no-vote process, House Majority Leader... FULL STORY »

Reconciliation move clears early hurdle

By Matthew DoBias | March 15, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
In a move more about procedure rather than policy, the House Budget Committee voted 21-16 to initiate the first step in a legislative process that... FULL STORY »

Senate bill's cost estimated at $875 billion

By Jennifer Lubell | March 11, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
The Senate's sweeping health reform bill would cost $875 billion and reduce the deficit by $118 billion over 10 years, according to revised estimates... FULL STORY »

Dems frustrated by lack of legislative text, cost figures

By Matthew DoBias | March 11, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
House Democrats said they were frustrated because they had not yet seen legislative text and an official pricetag for a group of healthcare measures... FULL STORY »

Senate OKs doc-pay, COBRA-subsidies measure

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid By Jennifer Lubell | March 10, 2010 | Free Access
The Senate voted 62-36 to approve a $138 billion bill that would temporarily prevent Medicare payment cuts to doctors as well as extend federal... FULL STORY »

Sebelius urges AHIP to work with White House

By Jennifer Lubell | March 10, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius challenged the insurance industry to put aside its misgivings about pending healthcare reform legislation and work... FULL STORY »

Obama to announce initiative to fight Medicare, Medicaid abuse

By Gregg Blesch | March 10, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
President Barack Obama plans to announce an expansion of payment recapture audits to fight waste and abuse in Medicare, Medicaid and other government... FULL STORY »

Hoyer won't commit to March 18 deadline

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer By Matthew DoBias | March 09, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
A top Democrat distanced the House from a March 18 deadline to pass healthcare overhaul legislation, saying the plan is to move swiftly but not to... FULL STORY »

Brown says jobs trump health reform

Sen. Scott Brown By Jennifer Lubell | March 09, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
Creating jobs takes precedence over healthcare reform, Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) said during a presentation at the National Association of Health... FULL STORY »

White House isn't pressing providers to justify price hikes: Sebelius

By Matthew DoBias | March 08, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
The nation's top healthcare official said that hospitals, physicians and other providers would be exempt from having to publicly justify cost... FULL STORY »

Justify rate hikes publicly, Sebelius tells insurers

By Jennifer Lubell | March 08, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in a letter to major insurance companies asked them to follow up on a request she made to the industry at the White... FULL STORY »
 
Other News Sources

Obama rallies support for healthcare votes

By the Associated Press | March 19, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
President Barack Obama described the stakes of this weekend's healthcare vote in stark terms, using words uttered so rarely out of the White House... FULL STORY »

Obama-Fox sitdown gets testy

By Politico.com | March 18, 2010 | Free Access
With his healthcare initiative hanging in the balance on Capitol Hill, President Barack Obama told Fox News that he and other Americans don't care... FULL STORY »

Undecideds feeling the pressure on Obama bill

March 17, 2010 | Free Access
Boston Globe FULL STORY »

Obama seeks to reassure seniors on healthcare

By the Associated Press | March 15, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
With a fresh sense of urgency, President Barack Obama sought to reassure seniors about healthcare legislation approaching a final vote in Congress,... FULL STORY »

What a healthcare loss would mean

By Time | March 15, 2010 | Free Access
In 2000, Barack Obama tried to unseat incumbent Illinois Congressman Bobby Rush in a Democratic primary. The thumping Obama received—Rush got... FULL STORY »

Obama delays trip ahead of healthcare push

By the Associated Press | March 12, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
President Barack Obama is postponing his long-scheduled Asian trip for a few days to make a final push for passage of historic legislation... FULL STORY »

On health, Obama has roadblocks in own party

By Boston Globe | March 11, 2010 | Free Access
President Obama slammed the health insurance industry and Republicans yesterday as the enemies of healthcare overhaul. But the president's immediate... FULL STORY »

Obama decries Washington in healthcare push

By the Associated Press | March 10, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
President Barack Obama says Washington for too long has accepted billions of dollars in healthcare fraud and abuse as simply the cost of doing... FULL STORY »

Va. health bill could foil Obama proposal

March 08, 2010 | Free Access
Boston Globe FULL STORY »

Sebelius: Bid for GOP support delayed healthcare

 Sebelius By the Associated Press | March 07, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Sunday that healthcare reform would have been "dead on arrival" if the White House had sent a finished... FULL STORY »

Activists, lobbyists pressing campaigns on healthcare bill

March 05, 2010 | Free Access
As President Barack Obama began pushing for a prompt vote on his health initiative, lobbyists and activist groups launched advertising and... FULL STORY »

Democrats would kill healthcare over abortion

By Reuters | March 04, 2010 | Free Access
A dozen House of Representatives Democrats opposed to abortion are willing to kill President Barack Obama's healthcare reform plan unless it... FULL STORY »

White House OK on healthcare without GOP

By Associated Press | February 28, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
The White House's top healthcare official is optimistic that Democrats will have the votes to pass a major healthcare overhaul. FULL STORY »

Poll shows less fear on healthcare overhaul

February 25, 2010 | Free Access
Associated Press via Yahoo FULL STORY »

Brown left out of Obama’s health summit

February 25, 2010 | Free Access
Boston Herald FULL STORY »

Summit to be felt beyond healthcare

February 24, 2010 | Free Access
USA Today FULL STORY »

Insurer's steep rate hike may aid Obama's cause

By San Francisco Chronicle | February 23, 2010 | Free Access
A California insurer's steep rate hike on individual health insurance plans has been a gift to President Obama, breathing life into Democratic health... FULL STORY »

GOP sour to Obama's new proposal

By Matthew DoBias | February 22, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
Republicans were quick to hit back at the Obama administration after the White House today released a $950 billion proposal to reshape the U.S. FULL STORY »

Obama keeps all-Democratic option open

February 19, 2010 | Free Access
Associated Press via Yahoo FULL STORY »

Republican holds out hope on healthcare

February 18, 2010 | Free Access
Associated Press via Google FULL STORY »
 
Reader Comments

AMA endorsement brings swift response

March 19, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
This is reason enough to drop out of the AMA if you belong, or refuse to join if you don't. How can an organization representing such a small... FULL STORY »

Cost estimates can be based on flawed ideas

March 19, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
The Congressional Budget Office can only work with the data that are given to them. They can't say, “Wait a minute, your premise is flawed... FULL STORY »

It was a nice run but times have changed

March 18, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
We the physicians are like the unions representing the steelworkers of the '60s, and the auto workers of the '80s, blind to the fiscal realities of... FULL STORY »

First, prove that reform plan will work

March 17, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
Before we add 40 million more to the insurance rolls through the president's plan—and add another trillion dollars of debt to this... FULL STORY »

Insurers put squeeze on ASCs

March 15, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
We are concerned about the future of the CMS, but I project the insurance companies will be the ones putting us out of business first. What a shame... FULL STORY »

Reform proposal could be job killer

March 12, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
When examined through the lens of a jobs bill, the current healthcare proposal can only be viewed as an impediment to job creation, at best, or a job... FULL STORY »

Obama should push jobs, too

March 10, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
The president needs to be aggressively pushing a jobs bill along with healthcare. This country is smart enough to tackle both difficult issues at... FULL STORY »

A step in the right direction

March 08, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
Game-changing tax laws were passed via reconciliation under former administrations, so healthcare legislation is not a first. While not true reform,... FULL STORY »

Congress has moral imperative to act

March 05, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
The American public expects its elected officials to ensure their safety and well-being. Now is the time to demonstrate this by having the moral... FULL STORY »

Reconciliation plans spur mixed response

March 04, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
So, we are going to pass the most comprehensive overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system in more than 40 years, something that many have been trying to... FULL STORY »

A show of arrogance in Washington

February 26, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
It is extremely arrogant on the part of the president and his colleagues—both Democrat and Republican alike—to waste one day of Senate... FULL STORY »

White House plan is path to socialism

February 24, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
President Barack Obama's plan is a “Trojan horse” and will not only further bankrupt our economy, but also take away our freedom, depress... FULL STORY »

Both sides need to adjust agendas

February 23, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
If the Democrats are serious about passing a bipartisan healthcare system overhaul law, they need to incorporate the following into the current... FULL STORY »

‘Sickcare system' nearing crisis

February 18, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
Health insurance does not mean healthcare, as insurance companies are only in business to make money, and the easiest way to make money for their... FULL STORY »

Be wary of ruse by Democrats

February 17, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
This proposal is merely the latest ruse by the White House and the Democratic-controlled Congress to get a bill—any bill—passed, so that... FULL STORY »

Summit deserves chilly reception

February 11, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
Bipartisanship is not the same as caving in to President Barack Obama's wants. Trying to ram a bill through when you have 60 senators is not the same... FULL STORY »

Held hostage by the ‘Blues Brothers'

February 10, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
Why should insurance companies and Major League Baseball be the only two entities in the U.S. exempt from antitrust violations? FULL STORY »

Strip insurers' antitrust exemption?

February 05, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
Boo progressives, and their commie antitrust laws! FULL STORY »

Democrats prove disappointing

January 25, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
If Nancy Pelosi can't get a majority of the House to pass the Senate bill, which matches the House bill in 80% to 90% of the key provisions, then she... FULL STORY »

Pulling back from the brink

January 21, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
Thank the Lord for Massachusetts. Stopping President Barack Obama's socialist agenda has pulled this country back from the edge of disaster. People... FULL STORY »
 
Essays on Reform

Learn from computer industry

David Gordon By David Gordon | March 16, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
The main problem with our healthcare system is that healthcare, as we practice it, is too expensive, and it has not gotten less expensive over time. FULL STORY »

Plug coverage gap

Deeana Laurie Jang By Deeana Laurie Jang | March 11, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
President Barack Obama has urged lawmakers to put aside partisan differences and pass his health reform plan, saying it would throw a critical safety... FULL STORY »

Time for an ultimatum

Marvin Wool By Marvin Wool | February 25, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
President Barack Obama has now learned the hard way that healthcare reform is too important to leave to Congress. He has also admitted, sort of, that... FULL STORY »

Two takeaways for hospitals

Allan J. Lazar By Allan J. Lazar | February 02, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
Regardless of the outcome of the national debate about health reform, two takeaways for hospitals already are certain: Costs must be managed, and... FULL STORY »

Costs merit scrutiny

 Pardes By Herbert Pardes | January 12, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
There are many care-based reasons why some hospitals cost more. But, so far, the Senate healthcare reform legislation has not taken all of these... FULL STORY »

Use sales tax, vouchers

 G. Edward Tucker Jr. By G. Edward Tucker Jr. | January 05, 2010 | Basic Web Registration
If healthcare is a right, there is also an individual responsibility. Individuals must pay for the right to healthcare through taxes, insurance... FULL STORY »

Add ‘meaningful use' for patients

 Jonathan Leviss By Jonathan Leviss | December 29, 2009 | Basic Web Registration
For many physicians, computerized provider order entry, electronic health records and other technical aspects of healthcare... FULL STORY »

More insurers wanted

 Mitch Goldman By Mitch Goldman and Howard Wizig | December 08, 2009 | Basic Web Registration
Instead of a single government-run public option or government funded “co-op” in a given market, we propose that Congress provide seed... FULL STORY »

In search of cooperation—Part II

 Douglas Hastings By Douglas Hastings | December 03, 2009 | Basic Web Registration
In both the current Senate and House versions of healthcare reform legislation, there are comprehensive proposals with significant implications for... FULL STORY »

Make preventive care a priority

 Ronald Jensen By Ronald Jensen | December 01, 2009 | Basic Web Registration
Over the course of their career, medical professionals often make decisions that permanently affect the lives of their patients. For me, as a doctor... FULL STORY »

Expect new payment model to emerge

 Tom Enders By Tom Enders | November 17, 2009 | Basic Web Registration
The future is looking bleak for many provider organizations. The healthcare reform train is barreling down the track and the administration's... FULL STORY »

Pharmacists can help rein in costs

 Bruce Roberts By Bruce Roberts and Ricky Guidry | November 12, 2009 | Basic Web Registration
In medicine, as in life, sometimes an answer is so obvious it gets overlooked. That's about how community pharmacists feel about the healthcare... FULL STORY »

Delivery system needs to be re-examined

 Harvey Billig By Harvey Billig | November 03, 2009 | Basic Web Registration
With the pending expansion of healthcare insurance to millions of newly insured, it is time to re-examine the delivery system if one wants true... FULL STORY »

Target antiquated management methods

 By John Kenagy | October 15, 2009 | Basic Web Registration
Everyone who has worked in a large, complex organization has run up against unmanageable “elephants in the room”—unresolved issues,... FULL STORY »

U.S. needs national call to wellness

 John Newport By John Newport | October 08, 2009 | Basic Web Registration
No one is satisfied with our current healthcare system, which eats up 17% of our Gross Domestic Product at a cost of more than $2 trillion per year,... FULL STORY »

What if health coverage was like other insurance?

 Larry Van Horn By Larry Van Horn | October 06, 2009 | Basic Web Registration
I'm a balding, middle-aged, overweight American male. I have borderline hypertension and high cholesterol. I don't like to exercise, and I enjoy... FULL STORY »

Put focus on outcomes

 Emerson Smith By Emerson Smith | September 22, 2009 | Basic Web Registration
This nation is in a fist-fighting, name-calling turmoil over healthcare system deficiencies. And people are demanding change, with the entire world... FULL STORY »

Simple solutions could yield savings

 James Bradwell By James Bradwell | September 17, 2009 | Basic Web Registration
While reducing the cost of healthcare appears to have been one of the original impetuses behind the reform movement, it appears to have taken a back... FULL STORY »

Examine root causes of problems

 Larry Weinrauch By Larry Weinrauch | September 15, 2009 | Basic Web Registration
As two parties debate their ideology deriding each other as uncontrolled free market as opposed to socialism, it becomes apparent that pragmatism... FULL STORY »

Improving health should be part of the effort

 James Anderson By James Anderson | September 10, 2009 | Basic Web Registration
Congress has returned to Washington focused on various proposals to reform healthcare, trying to assuage public concerns about costs, access and... FULL STORY »
 
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