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Progress on the Baucus Bill is in the eye of the beholder

The New York Times: "Senate Democrats on Friday preserved the guts of their proposal to reinvent the health care system, but Republicans scored political points on several issues, like the effects of the bill on older Americans. The Democrats beat back Republican attacks on the legislation as the Senate Finance Committee deferred some of the most contentious issues to next week."

28 Sep 2009

Biden emerges as health care messenger

The vice president took the stage Wednesday for the administration's health reform campaign with a talk with seniors at Leisure World in suburban Maryland. The Associated Press reports: "Vice President Joe Biden sought to reassure nervous seniors Wednesday that they won't see cuts in their Medicare benefits if the nation's health care system is revamped. ...

26 Sep 2009

At Finance Committee, fireworks surround efforts to add drug discount, eliminate individual mandate

The Senate Finance Committee on Thursday defeated an amendment that sought to squeeze more money out of pharmaceutical companies to help pay for the costs of changing the health care system. The panel's vote was a victory for President Obama and Finance Chairman Max Baucus.

25 Sep 2009

GOP to stall confirmation of HHS nominees, due to flap over insurers' letters to seniors

Debate continues about the administration's reaction to letters sent by insurers to seniors about health overhaul.

25 Sep 2009

Finance committee agonizes over Medicare cuts

Politico reports: "The top Senate Republican says Democratic cuts to Medicare will cost them in the 2010 elections, warning that the hundreds of billions in reductions to the senior citizen health program is 'Orwellian.' Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the Senate minority leader, criticized Democrats for insisting that a half-trillion dollars in cuts to Medicare as part of the health care overhaul, well, aren't exactly cuts to Medicare.

25 Sep 2009

House passes bill to stop some Medicare premium increases

The House voted overwhelmingly to stop premium increases in Medicare Part B— which covers doctor visits — from taking effect next year.

25 Sep 2009

First Edition: September 25, 2009

Today's headlines reflect the continuing action in the Senate Finance Committee and around Congress, focusing on legislative strife related to the White House deal with drug companies and the debate over the public plan.

25 Sep 2009

Senators fight over Medicare spending cuts, what it would mean for beneficiaries

Senators on the Senate Finance Committee spent much of Wednesday duking it out over proposed Medicare cuts that would fund part of a Democratic push at health care reform. The intensity of the debate highlights the political importance of the senior citizen demographic.

25 Sep 2009

$10 million grant to Weill Cornell Institute from NIMH to study geriatric depression

The Weill Cornell Institute of Geriatric Psychiatry at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Westchester Division announced today it has received the largest grant in its 20-year history. One of a handful awarded nationally, the new $10 million, five-year "Center Grant" from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) will enable NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell investigators to advance their pioneering work in understanding the biological, medical, cognitive and psychosocial problems of depressed seniors.

25 Sep 2009

Senate Finance Panel rejects amendment to squeeze drug makers

"Senators rebuffed an attempt to squeeze more money from the drug industry Thursday after two Democrats warned it would undermine the fragile political coalition pushing a sweeping health care overhaul," The Associated Press reports.

25 Sep 2009

Senators urge the CMS to spare funding cuts for radiation oncology services

Cancer physicians and cancer care advocates applauded a bipartisan letter led by Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) sent to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius yesterday urging that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) spare life-saving radiation oncology services from a major Medicare funding cut proposed for diagnostic imaging services. The 32 Senators signing the letter stated their unanimous concern that these funding cuts could force freestanding and community-based cancer centers to shut down, thereby limiting access to care for seniors - particularly in rural areas.

25 Sep 2009

Democrats, seeking to ease seniors concerns, propose freeze on Medicare Part B premiums

Politico reports: "House Democrats proposed Wednesday to freeze Medicare Part B premiums for the coming year rather than risk what would be an October surprise for health care reform — threatened cuts in Social Security checks for millions of elderly."

25 Sep 2009

GOP threatens to block health nominees over insurer "gag order"

"The Senate's top Republicans say they won't allow President Barack Obama to fill health posts until his administration stops barring insurers from telling seniors about Democrats' plans to overhaul the health care system," The Associated Press reports. In a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Republicans demanded that the "gag order" against insurers be lifted.

25 Sep 2009

Trade groups to church groups share evolving views on health reform

Many groups fear, or are fiercely advocating for, provisions in Democratic health care reform proposals. Others are softening their stances on certain parts of the bills. Here's a sampling from today's clippings.

24 Sep 2009

Democrats woo AARP, seniors to support health reform bills

"Though AARP hasn't endorsed Obama's health care drive, many of its priorities are reflected in Democratic bills, including reducing gaps in Medicare prescription drug coverage and eliminating Medicare patients' costs for preventive care. This has led some Republicans to question AARP's true loyalties" (Fram, 9/23).

24 Sep 2009

First Edition: September 24, 2009

Today's headlines shed light on developments during the second day of the Finance Committee's health bill mark up.

24 Sep 2009

RetireSafe calls for Senators to oppose the rationing of Medicare hospital benefits at physician hospitals

Today RetireSafe, representing 400,000 senior supporters across America, called on the U.S. Senate, starting with the Senate Finance Committee, to stop the proposed rationing of high-quality hospital care to Medicare patients.

24 Sep 2009

PCMA releases statement regarding the Senate Finance Committee’s ongoing deliberations on health-care reform

“As the Senate Finance Committee continues to craft legislation, the next 48 hours will be critical in determining whether health reform delivers on the promise of making prescription drugs more affordable for all Americans. With nearly $245 billion spent annually on prescription drugs, Americans want the peace of mind that comes from knowing that reform makes common-sense improvements that lower the cost of prescriptions for everyone.

24 Sep 2009

New report on seniors and health insurance reform released

Vice President Joe Biden and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today hosted a town hall meeting with seniors in Silver Spring, Md., and released a new report, Health Insurance Reform and Medicare: Making Medicare Stronger for America’s Seniors.

24 Sep 2009

MetLife unveils its enhanced web-based resource for oral health care

Understanding how to maintain or improve oral health just got easier. MetLife, the largest commercial dental carrier, which administers dental benefits for over 21 million people, today unveiled its enhanced consumer resource, the MetLife Oral Health Library.

24 Sep 2009

Seniors News and Research

Progress on the Baucus Bill is in the eye of the beholder

Biden emerges as health care messenger

At Finance Committee, fireworks surround efforts to add drug discount, eliminate individual mandate

GOP to stall confirmation of HHS nominees, due to flap over insurers' letters to seniors

Finance committee agonizes over Medicare cuts

House passes bill to stop some Medicare premium increases

First Edition: September 25, 2009

Senators fight over Medicare spending cuts, what it would mean for beneficiaries

$10 million grant to Weill Cornell Institute from NIMH to study geriatric depression

Senate Finance Panel rejects amendment to squeeze drug makers

Senators urge the CMS to spare funding cuts for radiation oncology services

Democrats, seeking to ease seniors concerns, propose freeze on Medicare Part B premiums

GOP threatens to block health nominees over insurer "gag order"

Trade groups to church groups share evolving views on health reform

Democrats woo AARP, seniors to support health reform bills

First Edition: September 24, 2009

RetireSafe calls for Senators to oppose the rationing of Medicare hospital benefits at physician hospitals

PCMA releases statement regarding the Senate Finance Committee’s ongoing deliberations on health-care reform

New report on seniors and health insurance reform released

MetLife unveils its enhanced web-based resource for oral health care

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