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House-passed abortion restrictions could stir up Senate's health reform debate

The Washington Post: "The abortion issue had been rumbling within the House Democratic caucus for weeks, but Saturday's votes revealed the depths of the fault lines. The amendment passed with the support of 64 Democrats, roughly a quarter of the party caucus." And with an eye on the Senate and eventual conference committee negotiations, abortion-rights supporters are now pledging to strip the amendment out of the underlying health bill.

10 Nov 2009

Narrow House vote is prologue to Senate health reform battle

The 220-215 pencil-thin margin of victory for the House Democrats' health reform bill foreshadows a potentially tougher fight in the Senate, The Wall Street Journal reports.

10 Nov 2009

Obesity among other issues debated in health reform

Among other issues making news in the health care reform debate are people's weight, benefits for homosexual partners, the debate over interstate insurance and the timeline for implementing any changes.

10 Nov 2009

House bill abortion deal creates a new set of reform challenges

The New York Times reports that a "restriction on abortion coverage, added late Saturday to the health care bill passed by the House, has energized abortion opponents with their biggest victory in years — emboldening them for a pitched battle in the Senate." The Times notes that "the provision would block the use of federal subsidies for insurance that covers elective abortions" and is a major win -- "the biggest turning point in the battle over the procedure since the ban on so-called partial birth abortions six years ago."

10 Nov 2009

House healthcare bill is radically off the mark: Cinergy Health

Cinergy Health, a nationwide provider of guaranteed issue health insurance benefit programs for the consumer market, expressed its concern for the house healthcare bill that passed Saturday, November 7th.

9 Nov 2009

Cao gives Dems lone GOP vote for health overhaul

Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao, R-La., was the only Republican to support the health reform bill, just a year after becoming a minor GOP celebrity for capturing a reliably Democratic congressional district in New Orleans, Politico reports. His defection - not his first since joining the House this year - has now made him "a bit of a cult hero on the left" and a sought-after media star.

9 Nov 2009

With House hurdle cleared, Democrats reflect on health bill compromises

The Washington Post: "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and her leadership team won a hard-fought victory on Obama's most critical domestic policy agenda item by neutralizing the most potentially toxic political issue well in advance of the final vote, siding with centrists on their preferred version of the public option. She then publicly dared the progressive wing, with its strong commitment to establishing national health insurance, to take down the entire package because one piece was not to their liking."

9 Nov 2009

Public health experts urge Congress not to overlook the needs of Americans with "morbid obesity"

As the House of Representatives and the Senate debate companion bills to make health care more affordable and accessible, a coalition of obesity and public health experts today urged Congress not to overlook the needs of the more than 15 million Americans who suffer from severe obesity and are at the greatest risk for chronic disease and death.

9 Nov 2009

First Edition: November 9, 2009

Two mornings after, the headlines are still focused on the landmark House passage of the Democratic-backed health overhaul bill and what might happen next... in the Senate.

9 Nov 2009

Democratic National Committee commends the passage of Affordable Health Care for America Act

Tonight the House of Representatives passed the Affordable Health Care for America Act, landmark health reform legislation that will ensure every American has access to quality, affordable, stable and secure health care coverage. The legislation, which cracks down on some of the insurance industry's worst practices, would extend coverage to 36 million Americans and cut the deficit by $104 billion over ten years.

9 Nov 2009

National Alliance for Hispanic Health commends passage of health care bill

"Tonight the U.S. House of Representatives showed they have heard the voice of America's families by passing the Affordable Health Care for America Act. Now the Senate must deliver, without delay, on the promise of meaningful health care reform," said Dr. Jane L. Delgado, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, the nation's leading Hispanic health advocacy group.

9 Nov 2009

eHealth CEO commends passage of health reform bill

I commend Speaker Pelosi, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rangel, Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Waxman, Education and Labor Committee Chairman Miller, lead author Rep. John Dingell and their House colleagues for advancing legislation with the goal of connecting all Americans to coverage. House passage of this legislation is an important step towards reform and achieving the goal of covering the uninsured, an objective that has been a priority for our company from its inception.

9 Nov 2009

Obama on health reform vote: 'This is our moment'

President Barack Obama visited Capitol Hill and made a brief televised statement this afternoon to press the House to pass the Democratic health reform bill.

9 Nov 2009

To move health reform bill, Dems make abortion agreement, start historic debate

News outlets covered the late-night deal on abortion language in the House health care overhaul bill and looked forward to the debate and vote today.

9 Nov 2009

With the House landmark vote behind them, GOP and Democratic leaders turn sights to the Senate

After yesterday, when the House of Representatives cleared its version of sweeping health overhaul legislation, the Sunday talk shows were full of GOP and Democratic leaders talking about the impact of that vote as well as what might happen in the Senate.

9 Nov 2009

A divided House approves sweeping health reform legislation, 220-215

After months of intense debate and negotiations, the House of Representatives approved the most ambitious effort ever to change the country's health care system, with 219 Democrats and one Republican voting for the bill and 39 Democrats voting against the bill. Democrats in the chamber cheered the final tally.

9 Nov 2009

Prevention and wellness provisions in the health reform bill passed by the House applauded

The American Public Health Association (APHA) applauds the prevention and wellness provisions in the health reform bill passed last night by the House.

9 Nov 2009

AMA hails passage of the House health reform bill

The AMA hails the passage of the House health reform bill, which will help improve the health system for patients and physicians and calls for swift passage of H.R. 3961 to secure the stability of the Medicare program. Passage of the House health reform bill is a big step forward as we work for comprehensive health reform this year.

8 Nov 2009

Democrats hail historic House health reform bill, turn focus to Senate

News outlets are still digesting the House of Representatives' passage of a landmark health care overhaul and also looking ahead to the Senate, where an effort to meld two health reform bills is stalled.

8 Nov 2009

Access to health care for every American is a long overdue reality: NMA

"The National Medical Association (NMA) is anxious to see health reform put to a vote on Saturday. We believe this is long overdue for America," said Dr. Willarda Edwards, President of the National Medical Association (NMA).

7 Nov 2009