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Sebelius defends policy on insurers' politically oriented letters

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius defends a government memo telling insurers to stop sending letters to seniors about the effects of health reform legislation on Medicare Advantage programs.

8 Oct 2009

RWJF announces winners of the 2009 Community Health Leaders Award

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is proud to announce the 2009 recipients of its Community Health Leaders (CHL) Award, honoring 10 individuals who have overcome daunting odds to improve the health and quality of life for disadvantaged or underserved men, women and children across the United States.

8 Oct 2009

Finance Committee health bill: Party leaders handle key undecided votes differently

Democrats are tiptoeing around Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) these days," according to The Hill. How Rockefeller will cast his upcoming Senate Finance Committee vote isn't a sure thing, but his Democratic colleagues are avoiding the topic and instead letting President Obama do the talking.

8 Oct 2009

Pending health reform legislation lacks strategic emphasis on health workforce, say health center CEOs

Academic health center CEOs told congressional staff and representatives of national health care organizations at a congressional briefing that pending health reform legislation does not yet reflect the strategic emphasis on health workforce needed to implement successful health system reform.

8 Oct 2009

Legislation increasing states' role in health reform

TIME reports that states "could have a surprising degree of autonomy in determining how they implement" federal health reforms. "Though most everyone recognizes that the federal government can't impose a rigid approach, some critics say that the crucial version of legislation expected to pass Senator Max Baucus' Finance Committee in the next week ... may go too far in the other direction."

8 Oct 2009

CBO: Finance Panel's health bill pricetag is $829 billion over 10 years; provides coverage to 91% of U.S. residents

New cost estimates for the Senate Finance Health Overhaul were released this afternoon, clearing the way for a vote on the measure in the days ahead.

8 Oct 2009

Health reform bill vote delayed

Senate Finance Committee Republicans and Democratic moderates are asking for more time to consider their vote on the health overhaul proposal, once the Congressional Budget Office "scores" the bill.

8 Oct 2009

Dutch provide lessons on health reform, while Europe's highest court rules for drug maker

In a series about the health care systems in five countries, the NewsHour examines the Netherlands and its massive health care overhaul. "When the Netherlands redesigned its national health care system in 2006, there were three main goals: continue universal coverage, unleash competition between private insurers, and keep down costs for the long run.

8 Oct 2009

New book from Fraser Institute discusses the government-run health insurance in Canada

As Americans debate the merits of a “public option” for health insurance, a new book published by the Fraser Institute, one of Canada’s leading economic think tanks, documents the many significant problems with government-run health care in Canada, providing valuable comparative information for U.S. policy-makers at a crucial moment.

8 Oct 2009

First Edition: October 7, 2009

A new poll offers some positive news for President Obama about his popularity ratings, but public concerns about health reform persist -- even as some high profile, outside-the-beltway Republicans lend conditional support.

7 Oct 2009

Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative National Summit to focus on reforming health care delivery

The nation's top thought leadership and advocates for the patient centered medical home (PCMH) will convene a national meeting in Washington, DC Oct. 22 to unite around the Summit's goal to build, expand and support a fundamentally improved model for health care delivery.

7 Oct 2009

Deadline for pharmacies to meet Medicare’s DMEPOS accreditation requirements extended, Senate lauded

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) commended the Senate for passing a bill extending from Sept. 30 to Dec. 31, 2009 the deadline for meeting pharmacy accreditation requirements to continue offering Medicare Part B Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS).

7 Oct 2009

White House hosts white-coated doctors for health reform pitch

President Obama spoke to a group of doctors in the Rose Garden Monday, the Associated Press reports. "[N]obody has more credibility with the American people on this issue than you do," he said (Babington, 10/5).

7 Oct 2009

Today's editorials and opinions

In President Obama's Washington, medical specialists are slightly more popular than the H1N1 virus. … [T]he quiet war Democrats are waging on specialists is astonishing (10/6).

7 Oct 2009

Obama seeks 'broadest coalition possible' but finds greater success outside beltway

In an effort to assemble "the broadest coalition possible" in its push for health reform, the administration has ventured outside the beltway, the New York Times reports.

7 Oct 2009

Minorities support reform ad campaign, although immigrants may get little relief from legislation

Analysts suggest that health reform legislation may do little to help Hispanics -- many of whom could remain uninsured due to immigration restrictions and costs -- as well as other immigrants. Meanwhile, African-American and Hispanic groups unite with an advertising campaign to push for health care reform.

7 Oct 2009

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger supporting health reform efforts

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday announced his support for President Obama's push for health care reforms.

7 Oct 2009

Baucus says bill score could come Wednesday

Roll Call reports that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus said today that he could receive on Wednesday the final Congressional Budget Office cost estimate of the latest version of his panel's health reform bill.

7 Oct 2009

Examining the recent winners and losers in the health reform debate

"Pfizer Inc., the world's largest drugmaker, and hospital companies including Community Health Systems Inc. are benefiting from agreements with President Barack Obama that will limit any threat to their profits."

6 Oct 2009

States face rising Medicaid rolls under health reform

As part of the ongoing "Are You Covered?" series done in conjunction with Kaiser Health News, NPR profiles a 94-year-old Medicaid recipient in Colorado, who lives in a nursing home largely paid for by her Medicaid coverage. Gracie Scarrow and her daughter, Lela Petersen, both "say they are very satisfied with the program."

6 Oct 2009

Health Reform News and Research

Sebelius defends policy on insurers' politically oriented letters

RWJF announces winners of the 2009 Community Health Leaders Award

Finance Committee health bill: Party leaders handle key undecided votes differently

Pending health reform legislation lacks strategic emphasis on health workforce, say health center CEOs

Legislation increasing states' role in health reform

CBO: Finance Panel's health bill pricetag is $829 billion over 10 years; provides coverage to 91% of U.S. residents

Health reform bill vote delayed

Dutch provide lessons on health reform, while Europe's highest court rules for drug maker

New book from Fraser Institute discusses the government-run health insurance in Canada

First Edition: October 7, 2009

Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative National Summit to focus on reforming health care delivery

Deadline for pharmacies to meet Medicare’s DMEPOS accreditation requirements extended, Senate lauded

White House hosts white-coated doctors for health reform pitch

Today's editorials and opinions

Obama seeks 'broadest coalition possible' but finds greater success outside beltway

Minorities support reform ad campaign, although immigrants may get little relief from legislation

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger supporting health reform efforts

Baucus says bill score could come Wednesday

Examining the recent winners and losers in the health reform debate

States face rising Medicaid rolls under health reform

How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

The role of UV-Vis in biopharma QC

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