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Republicans test public plan supporters' will

Congressional Republicans are pushing an idea unlikely to garner much traction that would force members of Congress who vote for a government-run public plan for health insurance coverage to enroll in it, Politico reports.

15 Jul 2009

Senate panel looks to health insurers for health savings

"U.S. health insurers were in talks with the Senate Finance Committee Monday to discuss how to save the Medicare program $100 billion over a decade, a source familiar with the talks said," Reuters reports.

14 Jul 2009

Key Democrats summoned to White House meeting

"The White House summoned two lawmakers critical to President Barack Obama's hopes for health care overhaul to a private meeting Monday as the timetable for a comprehensive bill continued to slip," the Associated Press reports.

14 Jul 2009

Obama's focus on health care crucial to reform

"After a week of international diplomacy, President Obama returns to Washington this week facing an even greater diplomatic challenge: nudging the large and controversial health-care reform package toward consensus on Capitol Hill," The Washington Post reports.

14 Jul 2009

House seeks to pay for reform with new tax on wealthy

House Democrats are expected to begin marking up a health reform bill this week that members of the Ways and Means committee said "would cost less than $1 trillion over 10 years, [and would be] paid for chiefly by a combination of spending reductions in the health care system and a surtax on wealthy taxpayers," CQ Politics reports.

14 Jul 2009

Lobbying groups prepare for reconciliation process, step up fight on bill features

Lobbyists are beginning to consider how their clients would fare if health reform moves to a reconciliation process to pass legislation, Roll Call reports.

14 Jul 2009

Health reform stalled in Congress by busy schedule, divided lawmakers

"Lawmakers from both parties are telling the White House they will go on vacation next month and leave behind - and incomplete - President Barack Obama's health care overhaul," the Associated Press reports. The White House had long pushed lawmakers to complete their proposal by the recess, a target that now appears unlikely.

14 Jul 2009

Small business: The hunt for affordable health insurance

"For entrepreneurs trying to start or run a business, the obstacles are huge. But few loom as large as one: health care," the Wall Street Journal reports. "At some businesses, in fact, health care is the highest expense after salaries - with devastating consequences.

14 Jul 2009

Slumping economy hurts health system, but stimulus provides some relief

The receding economy has dragged down Michigan's health care system, "offering a preview of how a lingering recession could corrode Americans' hospitals, savings and health," the Wall Street Journal reports.

14 Jul 2009

Administration faces challenges from Democrats on health proposals

President Obama has asked Congress to deliver a bill by October that would "cut healthcare costs and provide medical coverage to most of the 46 million uninsured Americans," a goal that may no longer be realistic as members of the president's own party move to stall efforts, the Reuters/The Washington Post reports (Allen, 7/9).

12 Jul 2009

Tales of health insurance plights highlight overhaul efforts

Analysts say many in America take jobs they otherwise wouldn't simply for the health insurance coverage, Reuters/Boston Globe reports.

12 Jul 2009

Health, business groups continue staking out reform positions

Reuters reports that the National Retail Federation has come out against mandated employer coverage for health care for their employees, a stance that Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, supports.

12 Jul 2009

No Shriners hospitals closing; some may be outpatient-only

"All 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children will stay open, but some eventually might become outpatient-only surgery facilities, the system that offers free specialty pediatric care said Thursday," CNN reports.

12 Jul 2009

Health insurance exchanges gain attention

Kaiser Health News reports on health insurance exchanges, a concept now being considered in the context of Congress's health overhaul proposals.

12 Jul 2009

Experts urge revamping of long-term Medicare funding mechanisms

Health policy experts see a major revamp of the long-term Medicare funding mechanisms as a critical part of health reform.

12 Jul 2009

Many Washington State hospitals skimp on required charity care

"As the recession has cost more people their jobs and their health insurance, local hospitals have seen more patients show up with no way to pay," reports KUOW, a Washington State public radio station.

12 Jul 2009

Democrats divided as Congressional health overhaul efforts stall

Senators working feverishly to pass health reform ahead of Congress' August recess raised doubts Wednesday on whether they will be able to pass reform on schedule, The Boston Globe reports.

9 Jul 2009

Washington State insurers impose double digit rate hikes, again

"In what is becoming an annual ordeal for policyholders, Regence BlueShield is raising premiums for 135,000 individual health-plan members in Washington [state] by an average 17 percent on Aug. 1," the Seattle Times reports.

9 Jul 2009

Administration officials take health reform reins in Obama's absence

White House staff and administration officials are trying to maintain their visibility on health care reform this week with public events and meetings as President Obama travels, Roll Call reports.

9 Jul 2009

Healthcare reform gets boost from hospital groups

"In the face of mounting Republican opposition to its healthcare agenda, the Obama administration received a boost Wednesday, winning a preliminary agreement with leading hospital groups to cut federal payments to the industry over the next decade," The Los Angeles Times reports.

9 Jul 2009