Speech News and Research

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Republicans: Malpractice reform demonstration projects insufficient

The Associated Press: "In his Wednesday speech and again in (a CBS "60 Minutes" interview), the president signaled he was open to so-called tort reform. Under current practice, doctors and hospitals must pay huge amounts to insure themselves against malpractice lawsuits by patients seeking large court-ordered settlements for poor treatment. … 'I would be willing to ... consider any ideas out there that would actually work in terms of reducing costs, improving the quality of patient care,' Obama said in the Sunday interview, which was taped Friday" (Hurst, 9/14).

14 Sep 2009

Much of the focus now turns to the conservative Blue Dog Democrats

In his address to Congress on health care last week, President Obama attempted to reassure Blue Dog Democrats, such as Georgia Reps. Jim Marshall and Sanford Bishop, that the plan would not be too expensive or intrusive for their conservative constituencies, the Columbus, Ga., Ledger-Enquirer reports.

14 Sep 2009

Poll: Opposition to reform still high but easing

A new ABC News-Washington Post poll found that 48 percent of Americans approve of Obama's handling of health care. "Bottom-line views on health care reform have stabilized but failed to improve since President Obama addressed the nation, leaving him with a continued challenge in selling his plan to a public that remains skeptical about its benefits and costs alike," ABC News reports.

14 Sep 2009

Nonprofits seek financial relief in health legislation

The New York Times reports: "Nonprofit organizations say they are upset that Congress and the Obama administration have not addressed their rising health care costs in the various health care proposals being floated on Capitol Hill. The main bill in the House would award a tax credit to small businesses that provide their employees with health insurance — but nonprofits do not pay income taxes and thus would not benefit."

14 Sep 2009

First Edition: September 14, 2009

Today's headlines indicate that the momentum behind including a public option in health reform may be losing steam.

14 Sep 2009

APDA/NPF Parkinson's conference educates the young onset PD community

The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) National Young Onset Center and the National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) Young Onset Parkinson Network are co-sponsoring a series of conferences for those living with young-onset Parkinson's disease and their caregivers. The first conference will be held in Dallas, Texas on October 23-24.

14 Sep 2009

Meeting with Obama on health insurance reforms discussed

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid held a brief press availability following their meeting with President Obama at the White House this afternoon. Below is a transcript of their remarks followed by question and answer session.

14 Sep 2009

Schizophrenia: A major public health problem

Schizophrenia is a major public health problem. Affecting almost 1% of the world's population, it takes an enormous economic and social toll in addition to the distress, dysfunction, disability and mortality for those afflicted with this disease. Elements of the disease are present from birth, other aspects emerge during developmental years, and the illness becomes fully expressed in early adulthood with long-lasting implications for most patients.

14 Sep 2009

Public option, abortion funding unlikely in final health reform bill

News coverage of the Sunday talk shows centered around whether a "public option" will be included in health overhaul legislation.

14 Sep 2009

CBS poll: Americans more favorable about Obama's health plan after speech

President Obama's Wednesday night speech about overhauling the country's healthcare system appears "to have been successful — to some extent" according to a CBS poll, which "shows that Americans now give him the best marks of his presidency on handling health care, but they're still divided over whether he's clearly explained his plan," CBS News' Political Hotsheet blog reports.

14 Sep 2009

Continuing his health overhaul campaign, Obama emphasizes risk of losing insurance

Politico: "....(the) analysis of data from the University of Michigan shows many Americans will be without health insurance at periods of their life ... In his weekly radio and internet address, Obama cites the study to say, 'half of all Americans under 65 will lose their health coverage at some point over the next ten years.'"

14 Sep 2009

Speech unifies Democrats, for now, could set stage to bypass opponents

The day after President Obama's speech Wednesday, Democrats rallied behind his plan, including several key conservative members of the party, the Los Angeles Times reports. "'If the details live up to the quality of the speech, then it's a good plan,' said Tennessee Rep. Jim Cooper, a conservative Democrat who has been critical of the healthcare bill developed by House leaders." Other Democrats praised the speech for its endorsement of the proposed public insurance plan (Levey, 9/11).

11 Sep 2009

Post-speech debates: Illegal immigrant coverage, tort reform, abortion funding

President Obama's speech opened the door for experts and lawmakers to examine his proposed health reforms, with questions ranging from how reforms affect illegal immigrants' coverage to abortion funding.

11 Sep 2009

Health industry leaders optimistic on reform, though qualms remain

Industry analysts say insurers may not "have much to fear" from reform proposals, though the industry has been portrayed as "the system's main villains," the New York Times reports. Though Obama deployed several horror stories about insurers in his speech, he also said, "I have no interest in putting insurance companies out of business," and minimized the importance of the Democrat-supported, insurer-feared public health insurance plan.

11 Sep 2009

Experts, lawmakers wonder if Obama can pay for his health reform push

President Obama and Democrats are scrambling to find a way to pay for the specifics that he laid out in his speech Wednesday night, and they are pushing for a trigger that would rein in spending if cost containment for health care reform isn't met.

11 Sep 2009

Today's editorials and opinions

The Dime Standard The New York Times Barack Obama delivered the finest speech of his presidency. … Which is not to say that this is effective health reform (David Brooks, 9/10).

11 Sep 2009

Democrats, bolstered by Obama speech, promise to move reform legislation by fall

Democrats are promising to pass a health care reform bill by this fall after President Obama this week called for action. But in order to do that, the White House is holding meetings with moderates while liberal Democrats are asking for a meeting of their own. Other members are staking out clear positions on key policy issues.

11 Sep 2009

President Obama's proposed changes are not what an already-indebted country needs: BestHealthcareRates.com

The team from BestHealthcareRates.com is less than reassured with the presidential reassurances on the far-reaching effects of health care reform during his September 9th talk on the status of healthcare reform. With more than 46.3 million Americans not having medical insurance the need for changes is long overdue, but many of those proposed by Obama are not what an already-indebted country needs.

11 Sep 2009

Public Campaign Action Fund raises conflict of interest questions about Rep. Charles Boustany

Public Campaign Action Fund raised serious conflict of interest questions about Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) and the expected opposing remarks he will deliver tonight in response to President Barack Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress on health care reform.

11 Sep 2009

Health Management Associates signs a five-year medical transcription services contract with Transcend

TRANSCEND SERVICES, INC. (NASDAQ: TRCR), the third largest provider of medical transcription services to the U.S. healthcare market, announced today that it has entered into a five-year single-source contract to provide medical transcription services to Health Management Associates, Inc. (NYSE: HMA) (“HMA”).

11 Sep 2009