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PIPC supports new comparative effectiveness research proposal

The Partnership to Improve Patient Care (PIPC), a non-partisan, patient- focused, grassroots organization focused on securing patient-centered comparative effectiveness research (CER) voiced its strong support of the comparative effectiveness research provisions in Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus’s health reform proposal released today.

17 Sep 2009

Secretary Sebelius' new initiative to improve health care delivery

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, along with Vermont Governor Jim Douglas and Director of the White House Office of Health Reform Nancy-Ann DeParle today announced an initiative that will allow Medicare to join Medicaid, and private insurers in state-based efforts to improve the way health care is delivered.

17 Sep 2009

PFCD health care reform panel calls for promoting health through prevention of chronic diseases

The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) today brought together several health care experts to discuss ways to "get back to the basics" in health reform by advancing legislation that promotes the health of all Americans through better prevention and management of chronic disease.

17 Sep 2009

NCPA happy with Baucus' proposals for community pharmacies

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) commended Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-MT) for including several critical provisions to help community pharmacies better serve patients in the “America’s Healthy Future Act” proposed today.

17 Sep 2009

Regence BlueCross BlueShield on the health reform bill

I applaud Chairman Baucus and his working group of senators for their bipartisan work on health reform. By introducing a bill today, Chairman Baucus has moved our nation forward on the difficult yet important road to reform.

17 Sep 2009

Today's selection of opinions and editorials

Health care is a complicated and deeply personal issue; it takes time and effort to get reform right. Legislating every piece of this puzzle would be impossible and counterproductive.

17 Sep 2009

Lawmakers may wage jurisdiction fight over medical malpractice reform

Roll Call reports that the Senate Finance Committee could clash with the Senate Judiciary Committee if they try to amend their health reform bill to scale back medical malpractice lawsuits.

17 Sep 2009

Young adults have more to gain, and pay, in health reform

Young adults - a key constituency in President Obama's election - are likely to be major beneficiaries of health reform, as well as major contributors to funding it, the Washington Post reports.

17 Sep 2009

Poll finds concerns about health care reform's effect on the economy

A new poll finds President Barack Obama's job-approval rating and favorability remain high - 56 and 61 percent, respectively - despite deep divides over his health care proposal and handling of the economy, Bloomberg reports.

17 Sep 2009

Health reform plan will affect middle-class families adversely: Consumer Watchdog

The new health reform plan released today by U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) will charge middle-class families nearly 20% of their annual income for health coverage, while letting insurance companies charge what they please for policies, said Consumer Watchdog.

17 Sep 2009

Some Dems push back on Obama's proposed ban on illegal immigrants buying insurance

The Los Angeles Times reports: "Trying to quell a conservative uproar over his healthcare agenda, President Obama has proposed barring illegal immigrants from a possible government-arranged health insurance marketplace -- even if the immigrants pay with their own money.

17 Sep 2009

Health reform bill may limit tax-free flexible spending accounts

NASDAQ/Dow Jones reports: "Employees who enjoy unlimited tax-free treatment of out-of-pocket medical expenses through employee-benefit plans could be facing new curbs on the tax subsidy in health-care overhaul legislation.

17 Sep 2009

Key Democrat says he won't support finance bill 'in its present form'

Sen. John Rockefeller, the Senate Finance Committee's number two Democrat, said Tuesday that he will not support Sen. Max Baucus' health reform bill "in its present form." Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid plans to open debate on the bill by the end of September.

17 Sep 2009

Will health reform squeeze the middle class?

Some Democrats say that the health care plan proposed by Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., could squeeze middle-income families, who might have to pay large amounts for mandated coverage.

16 Sep 2009

Republicans strategy: Instead of attack, call for incremental reforms

Republicans are planning to counter Democratic health reform proposals with a call for an incremental approach.

16 Sep 2009

First Edition: September 16, 2009

Today's biggest story -- Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus, D-Mont., will unveil his health reform proposals. Who will support it? And won't?

16 Sep 2009

Primary care shortage could worsen under reform

The shortage of primary care physicians could prove a major challenge to health reform. To make matters worse, some doctors are considering early retirement because of the high cost of practicing medicine.

16 Sep 2009

President Obama urges labor support for health overhaul

The Washington Post reports that President Obama "urged the nation's largest labor federation... to get behind his proposal to overhaul the U.S. health-care system, saying that reform would help revive an economy that is still struggling with high unemployment."

16 Sep 2009

New poll suggests Americans believe health reform could make problems worse

USA Today reports that a new polls suggests some Americans believe President Obama's efforts to overhaul the health care system could actually make the system's problems worse.

16 Sep 2009

Device makers, late to the table, object to new fees in health bills

"The $100 billion medical-device industry is scrambling to reverse billions of dollars in fees proposed by the Senate Finance Committee, but it faces trouble because its reluctance to offer concessions alienated some lawmakers," the Wall Street Journal reports.

16 Sep 2009