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Today's editorials and opinions

After years of struggling with costs that were eating into his bottom line, David White, a small business owner in Maine, recently dropped health insurance for himself and his employees. It was a nerve-wracking decision (Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., 10/8).

9 Oct 2009

Health policy research roundup

Urban Institute: Variation in Insurance Coverage Across Congressional Districts New Estimates from 2008 -- Drawing from data from the American Community Survey, the authors of this brief explore the variation in rates of uninsurance, public and private coverage across congressional districts.

9 Oct 2009

Health industries: Changes could kill health reform bill

Insurers and pharmaceutical manufacturers are concerned that changes in a Senate bill could derail efforts — and their agreement — to overhaul the nation's health care system.

9 Oct 2009

Catholic bishops call for changes in health care legislation

CNN: "Senior Catholic bishops are threatening to oppose the health care bill under consideration in Congress if lawmakers don't make significant reforms regarding federally funded abortions and other issues."

9 Oct 2009

Persistent, growing disparities underscore the need for national reform

The cost and quality of health care, as well as access to care and health outcomes, continue to vary widely among states, according to the Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System's second state scorecard report released today.

9 Oct 2009

First Edition: October 9, 2009 - Finance Committee still dominates news

News outlets analyzed the current political climate as the Senate Finance Committee prepares for a Tuesday vote on health overhaul legislation.

9 Oct 2009

Senate Finance Committee puts forward health care reform framework

“Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus has put forward a bold framework for health care reform that builds on what works and improves what doesn’t. It’s a good start.

9 Oct 2009

Majority of public still says the government is responsible for basic health care: WPO poll

A new poll by WorldPublicOpinion.org (WPO) finds that over the last year, as the health care debate has intensified, a bipartisan consensus that the government is responsible for ensuring access to health care has fractured.

9 Oct 2009

Hispanic children with brain tumors rarely get high-quality treatment than other children: Study

Hispanic children diagnosed with brain tumors get high-quality treatment at hospitals that specialize in neurosurgery far less often than other children with the same condition, potentially compromising their immediate prognosis and long-term survival, according to research from Johns Hopkins published in October's Pediatrics.

9 Oct 2009

House Republicans, disputatious Democrats discuss health reform bills

The Hill reports that "three dozen" House Republicans were invited, for the first time since the health reform debate started, to talk with top-level Democrats: "'The bottom line is, [Democrats are] going to do what they are going to do. I guess they just don't want to look like they didn't (sit down); it's more of a dog and pony show,' Rep. John Fleming (R-La.) told The Hill as he walked out of the Republican Study Committee (RSC) meeting with Sebelius."

9 Oct 2009

North Carolina to penalize smokers, the obese; states face Medicaid cliff

State news Thursday explores Medicaid cuts, highlighting a new North Carolina policy for state employees — they pay more if they're heavy or smoke — and examines San Francisco's unusual city health program for the uninsured.

9 Oct 2009

Industry executives say health reform won't be lasting cure

Doctors and drug company executives say current reform legislation doesn't do enough to fix the problem of rising costs in the U.S. health care system or encourage healthier lifestyles.

9 Oct 2009

CBO: Over 10 years, finance health reform bill will cost $829 billion but reduce deficit

The Congressional Budget Office yesterday released its updated cost estimates for the health bill being considered by the Senate Finance Committee.

9 Oct 2009

Digestive Health Outcomes Registry for patients with GI disease

The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), the leading association representing clinicians and researchers who specialize in the digestive tract, and MedAssurant, Inc., a leading provider of data-driven healthcare solutions, announced today the collaborative initiative to develop a set of registries to assist physicians, payors, policy makers, and other healthcare stakeholders in the study and improvement of clinical and quality outcomes, care management, and cost effectiveness of care delivered to Americans with gastrointestinal disease.

9 Oct 2009

GE Healthcare to provide healthcare information technology to Community Health Centers

GE Healthcare, a leading provider of information technology systems across the globe, is announcing an agreement to provide state-of-the-art healthcare information technology to one of the nation’s most impoverished areas.

9 Oct 2009

Today's editorials and opinions

As Congress debates the costs of reforming our health-care system, it should consider one significant collateral cost of not acting: maintaining the world's highest rate of incarceration (Tracy Velazquez, 10/7).

9 Oct 2009

HMO stocks slump on CBO health care reform score

Reuters reports that HMO stocks are slipping lower today, in the aftermath of the Congressional Budget Office's analysis of the Senate Finance Committee health care reform bill.

9 Oct 2009

Children's access to health care poses significant health problem despite of health insurance coverage

Despite high rates of health insurance coverage among children in the District of Columbia, children's access to health care is inadequate and poses a significant health problem for the city's young residents, particularly those who are publicly insured, according to a RAND Corporation study issued today.

9 Oct 2009

Children on Medicaid still face difficulty getting dental care

Many children still don't get Medicaid dental care, state officials told the Government Accountability Office. The Associated Press reports:

9 Oct 2009

CBO score a score for Baucus, but others balk

The Congressional Budget Office's score was mostly good news for Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus as he works to gain approval for his health bill and move it to the Senate floor.

9 Oct 2009