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Nelson asks Reid to cancel Nebraska Medicaid deal

"Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) on Friday asked that a deal he secured for his state on Medicaid funding be removed from the health care reform bill, a move that follows weeks of unrelenting political blowback."

18 Jan 2010

Obama reportedly supportive of House bid to include national exchanges in health bill

The White House wants to include a national health-insurance exchange in the health bill, which would give House Democrats one of their top remaining demands, according to an official involved in the discussions.

18 Jan 2010

Nevada governor considers dropping out of Medicaid

State governors and other lawmakers continue to worry that an expansion of Medicaid could put their budgets in crisis.

18 Jan 2010

Dispute erupts between Reid and Lieberman around 'double-cross' quote

In a preview of a Jan. 24 magazine article, The New York Times reports on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's struggle to keep members of his caucus in line on health reform. In December, for instance, Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., told a talk show host he would not support the health overhaul plan without significant changes, surprising the majority leader.

18 Jan 2010

Proposed tax expansions could help pay for health reform

Democratic congressional leaders are considering a new strategy to help finance their ambitious healthcare plan -- applying the Medicare payroll tax not just to wages but to capital gains, dividends and other forms of unearned income.

18 Jan 2010

Dems back at the negotiating table with final health bill deal 'very close'

MarketWatch: After health negotiations stretched until the wee hours of the morning Friday, "House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said [later that morning] ... congressional Democrats are 'very close' to reaching final agreement on legislation." He said he hoped that "within the next 24, 48, 72 hours" such agreement would be reached. Meanwhile, Democratic leaders are expected to return to the White House today for more negotiations. This would "mark the third straight day of talks between Obama and Democrats over the health bill. Obama is anxious to sign a bill and move on to other issues including job creation" (Schroeder, 1/15).

18 Jan 2010

States threaten lawsuit over Nebraska's Medicaid deal in Senate health bill

Several news outlets report on a possible lawsuit against the Medicaid compromise for Nebraska that Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., brokered with Senate leaders.

18 Jan 2010

Study raises concerns about drug-resistant HIV

The emergence of drug-resistant strains of HIV could one day threaten efforts to control the global HIV pandemic, according to a study published online Thursday in the journal Science, HealthDay News/U.S. News & World Report reports. The researchers based their findings on "a mathematical model that tracks the transmission of multiple strains of HIV" in San Francisco, the news service writes (1/14).

18 Jan 2010

State budgets in straits as health programs sap resources

States are grappling with budget crises and lost revenues that have affected health programs.

18 Jan 2010

Democrats endure political anxieties as health talks continue

"President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats stand within days if not hours of striking final deals on historic health care legislation after key labor unions won concessions and pledged their support," The Associated Press reports. "Dozens of issues still needed to be finalized to reconcile bills passed separately by the House and Senate, but several lawmakers said that in the wake of the deal on the insurance plan tax, they felt a logjam had been broken" (Werner, 1/15).

18 Jan 2010

Cardiologists contest Medicare cuts

A cardiologists' lobby filed suit against Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, claiming cuts to heart care services, especially diagnostic tests, are unjustified, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

17 Jan 2010

Democratic leaders debate health reform at the White House

President Obama was meeting Wednesday afternoon with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., in an effort to produce a compromise between House and Senate legislation, underscoring "their desire to strike a quick deal."

17 Jan 2010

California health information organization closes after losing state bid

A California nonprofit meant to facilitate health information exchange has closed its doors after losing a bid to become the state's main exchange organization, Modern Healthcare reports. Board members for California Regional Health Information Organization, or CalRHIO, voted to disband after their company failed to win contracts with the state or negotiate a partnership that would fulfill state requirements.

17 Jan 2010

As budgets squeeze, states seek more federal help with Medicaid responsibilities

New York Gov. David Paterson is trying to build a coalition of states to seek a "federal takeover of health care costs for the elderly poor who receive benefits under both Medicare and Medicaid," to help ease the burden on state budgets, The Associated Press reports.

17 Jan 2010

AMGA reports significant growth in 2009; 2010 paves way for another successful year

The American Medical Group Association (AMGA) announced significant growth in 2009, during which it added 40 new member groups, representing more than 9,700 physicians treating 11 million patients.

17 Jan 2010

Unions, Democratic leaders and White House reach agreement on 'Cadillac' health insurance plans

Los Angeles Times: "The White House and labor leaders agreed Thursday on a formula to tax high-cost insurance plans, removing one of the last obstacles to President Obama's healthcare overhaul, officials said." Organized labor had staunchly opposed the proposed "Cadillac" tax, but as part of the agreement, "reached after an intense round of negotiations this week, union leaders dropped their opposition ... in exchange for concessions to limit its scope."

17 Jan 2010

Also in Global Health News: Family planning in Philippines; drug pricing in Africa

A government survey in the Philippines "found 73 percent of married women would use birth control if it were available, 22 percentage points higher than the 51 percent that did use such methods," Agence France-Presse reports.

17 Jan 2010

Veterans Affairs hires five new Federal Recovery Coordinators

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the hiring of five new Federal Recovery Coordinators, bringing to 20 the number of professionals coordinating care for the most seriously injured service members.

14 Jan 2010

Broad Health Coalition presses for medical liability reform

As the House and Senate work to merge their health care reform bills, the Health Coalition on Liability and Access (HCLA) sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, emphasizing the need to retain and strengthen current medical liability reform provisions in any final legislation.

14 Jan 2010

Art program gives a ray of hope for patients

To visit Erica Arcia in the Bone Marrow Transplant unit, you first have to don a sterile gown and mask. Then you step through one door, making sure that it seals behind you. Step through the second door of the isolation room and you’re standing at Arcia’s bedside.

13 Jan 2010