First Edition: September 20, 2010

Today's headlines include news about the political positioning of both Democrats and Republicans on health reform, the mid-term elections and GOP plans to repeal and replace.

KHN Column: Keeping An Eye On The Health Care Prize
In this Kaiser Health News column, Brian Klepper and David Kibbe write: "Many reformers undoubtedly believe that passage of the health overhaul law laid the issue to rest. But policy's wheels continue to turn, and the process is anything but over" (Kaiser Health News).

Obama To Tout Health-Care Law In Election Push
The Obama administration this week plans to revive its pitch for the health-care overhaul, hoping that a slate of consumer-friendly provisions will boost public support before midterm elections (The Wall Street Journal).

GOP Aims To Erode White House Agenda
Eyeing a potential Congressional win in November, House Republicans are planning to chip away at the White House's legislative agenda—in particular the health-care law—by depriving the programs of cash (The Wall Street Journal).

Big Hole In GOP Health Repeal Plan
For some Republicans, it's one of the most potent attack lines this fall, prized for its simplicity. Want to kill the new health care law? Just starve it of cash and replace it with something else. But there's nothing simple about it (Politico).

GOP Divided On How To Replace Health Overhaul Law
Republicans are promising to repeal and replace President Barack Obama's health care overhaul if they win control of Congress. But with what? Not even they know (The Associated Press).

Feds Gain Power Over Billions In Medicare Fraud
Proposed regulations being unveiled today seek to crack down on Medicare and Medicaid fraud by subjecting operators of certain medical firms to fingerprinting and stopping payments when credible fraud allegations are made, documents show (USA Today).

Paterson's No. 2 Calls For Medicaid Overhaul
Describing Medicaid as a "massive program" whose growth threatens the state's finances, Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch is calling for significant changes in New York's health care benefits for the poor and disabled, lobbing a volatile issue in the midst of the campaign for a new governor (The New York Times).

Social Conservatives Confident Views Will Be In New GOP Contract
Social conservatives are confident that their issues will be included in the anticipated new House GOP Contract with America. According to key anti-abortion lawmaker Rep. Joseph Pitts (R-Pa.), GOP leadership gave their reassurances that lighting-rod issues related to abortion would be addressed in the final, yet-to-be-seen "governing agenda" (The Hill).

The Dying Art Of The Physical Exam
For centuries, doctors diagnosed illness using their own senses, by poking, prodding, looking, listening. From these observations a skilled doctor can make amazingly accurate inferences about what ails the patient. Technology has changed that (NPR).

Kaiser Health News tracked the weekend's health policy developments, including run-up coverage on Saturday and Sunday related to the reform provisions scheduled to take effect this week.

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