Health Reform News and Research

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Pro-health reform, other rallies to start this week

In an effort to counter the public's growing skepticism over health reform, "supporters of President Barack Obama's health care agenda are ramping up their efforts with rallies and bus tours starting this week," the Associated Press reports.

26 Aug 2009

Young Obama supporters missing from health reform debate

Obama's tech-savvy young activists, who were instrumental in getting him elected, are not as active on health care reform, a gap Obama will have to fix if he is to regain momentum for his top domestic priority, The Associated Press reports.

26 Aug 2009

GOP unveils latest salvo in health reform battle: seniors' bill of rights

Republicans unveiled what they've termed the "Health Care Bill of Right for Seniors" Monday in an attempt to tailor their messages to the elderly, The Washington Post reports.

26 Aug 2009

Health reform fact checks fall short on dispelling angry myths

A fact check of a dozen often-repeated claims by politicos and interest groups finds that the truth appears "to be taking a vacation," CQ Politics reports. Of the 12 claims, CQ concludes that only one is true, six are misleading and five are downright false.

24 Aug 2009

Health care profiles: Kennedy, Daschle and Kratovil

News reports this weekend explored some prominent personalities in health reform, as well as a new one. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., continues to battle brain cancer at home, but his illness has taken on symbolic proportions in the debate.

24 Aug 2009

$10 billion provision may aid retired autoworkers; NFIB opposes house plan

A $10 billion proposal may help retired autoworkers, steelworkers and schoolteachers afford coverage. Meanwhile, the largest small business association has turned against health reform plans.

24 Aug 2009

After vacation, Obama could shift health reform tactics

News organizations are analyzing the health reform challenges ahead for the President.

24 Aug 2009

Obama tops ranking of the 100 most powerful people in healthcare

President Barack Obama was voted the most powerful person in healthcare by readers of Modern Healthcare, the nation's leading weekly healthcare business news magazine. Obama, whose name has become inextricably linked with healthcare reform, topped the magazine's annual ranking of the 100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare.

24 Aug 2009

Fitch Ratings downgrades $464 million bonds to BBB+

Fitch Ratings has downgraded to 'BBB+' the underlying rating on approximately $464 million outstanding bonds issued by the Louisiana Public Facilities Authority on behalf of Ochsner Clinic Foundation (OCF) ($380 million series 2007A) and Ochsner Community Hospitals (OCH) ($83.9 million series 2007B).

24 Aug 2009

GoHealthInsurance.com offers comprehensive health insurance coverage

Health reform is on the forefront of everyone's minds. Last month in his weekly address, President Barack Obama touted health insurance "exchanges" which offer Americans a one-stop shopping destination for health coverage.

24 Aug 2009

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan replies to Congressmen's queries

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has sent a letter to Michigan Congressmen John Dingell and Sander Levin as a response to the Congressmen's request for company information.

24 Aug 2009

Poll: Dwindling confidence in Obama's handling of health care

"Public confidence in President Obama's leadership has declined sharply over the summer, amid intensifying opposition to health-care reform that threatens to undercut his attempt to enact major changes to the system" according an ABC News/Washington Post poll, The Washington Post reports. "Among all Americans, 49 percent now express confidence that Obama will make the right decisions for the country, down from 60 percent at the 100-day mark in his presidency. Forty-nine percent now say they think he will be able to spearhead significant improvements in the system, down nearly 20 percentage points from before he took office."

24 Aug 2009

Obama, dems plot new health reform strategy

Though they've spent years "testing and refining their message," Democrats are back at the beginning, plotting a new strategy to sell health reform, Politico reports.

24 Aug 2009

Pharmaceutical manufacturers increase lobbying

The Associated Press reports: "The pharmaceutical industry's primary trade group spent nearly $6.2 million lobbying in the second quarter on health care reform provisions, confirmation of two top federal officials and other issues, according to a recent disclosure report.

24 Aug 2009

Chicago health conference to focus on health care reforms and expandng access to care for the uninsured and jobless during recession

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will be among top federal officials to address a national conference of Community, Migrant and Homeless Health Center representatives from across the country.

24 Aug 2009

Doctors' strange economic role

Doctors play an unusual role in the economy. "When asked what profession, economically speaking, the doctor resembles most, many economists say auto mechanic — because of… the information problem," NPR reports.

23 Aug 2009

Daschle advising Obama, health industry on reform

The Washington Post: "Former Senate majority leader Thomas A. Daschle's visit to the Oval Office on Friday, at the invitation of President Obama, was more than just a meeting between two loyal friends and political allies. It also served as a reminder of what might have been."

23 Aug 2009

Brits defend National Health Service against U.S. criticism

The United Kingdom's National Health System enters into the health care debate amid comparisons of the British and American health care systems. Meanwhile, British politicians defend NHS against critics.

23 Aug 2009

Dems in conflict on health reform options, Mccain defends GOP 'end of life' claims

The Associated Press: "Some lawmakers have suggested that a separate bill with changes that are supported by Republicans and Democrats would be one route toward progress on the health care overhaul. But a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota, says he doesn't see how lawmakers could get two health care bills through Congress and coordinate them well." Conrad spoke on CBS' "Face The Nation" (8/23).

23 Aug 2009

House Liberals: Bill must include public option

"With the battle over health care reform heating up over the issue of a public insurance option, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that the House must pass an overhaul that includes a public option," the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The comments came at a San Francisco news conference.

23 Aug 2009