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Manager's amendment does not alleviate Americans' problems, says FRC

Early this morning, the U.S. Senate voted for cloture on the manager's amendment which includes abortion language that would force the federal government to pay premiums for private health plans that will cover any or all abortions while doing nothing to protect individual conscience rights.

21 Dec 2009

New Manager's amendment holds tax burdens that may raise Missouri premiums and subsidize other states

Yesterday, Senator Reid released his Manager's amendment to the health care reform legislation currently being discussed in the U.S. Senate. One provision in the amendment involved the $6.7 billion annual tax that will be levied on the health insurance industry.

21 Dec 2009

FreedomWorks opposes proposed health care legislation

While a blizzard paralyzed Washington, it did not slow down the health care legislative stampede on Capitol Hill. The bill being rushed through by Senator Harry Reid and Senate Democrat leadership will fundamentally alter American health care.

21 Dec 2009

Direct primary care amendment may offer affordable health care options for Americans

The U.S. Senate today made an important step that could expand health care coverage to more Americans while simultaneously reducing costs. The Manager's Amendment, introduced by Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.) this morning, includes a provision that would allow flat-fee direct primary care practices, in which patients pay a flat fee for primary and preventive care, to compete in the proposed insurance exchange. This will provide Americans more affordable health care options beyond traditional insurance.

21 Dec 2009

Abortion compromise does not address core problem in Senate health bill, says Cardinal DiNardo

The Senate health reform bill should not move forward in its current form, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, New York, and Bishop John Wester of Salt Lake City said December 19, as senators proceeded closer to a vote.

21 Dec 2009

Senate bill, a bad medicine and bad policy, say Medical groups

Medical groups with more than half-a-million members say the Senate bill is bad medicine and bad policy, and a number of their representatives will explain why during a "virtual" news conference on Sunday, Dec. 20 at 2 pm EST.

21 Dec 2009

FRC opposes Senator Reid's bill

Today Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) released his long awaited "manager's amendment" with new language dealing with the abortion issue. The new language is being trumpeted as including an opt-out provision that actually makes the opt-out provision in the original bill worse by requiring the state to either cover all abortions or opt out of all abortions.

21 Dec 2009

Statement on Senate health care reform legislation released by Karen Ignagni

The debate before the country is not whether insurance market reforms are needed. They are. The debate is not about whether all Americans should have health care coverage. They should. The debate is about whether the current legislation can work, bend the cost curve, and be sustained.

21 Dec 2009

With deal in hand, Senate Dems proceed on health bill

Reuters: "The White House on Sunday sought to preserve the fragile alliance of Democratic liberals and moderates backing broad healthcare reform legislation, with tough decisions looming on abortion and a new government-run insurance program.

21 Dec 2009

Nelson becomes the 60th vote as Senate Dems plod through a snowy work Saturday

The Washington Post: "Sen. Ben Nelson (Neb.), the final Democratic holdout on health care, was prepared to announce to his caucus Saturday morning that he would support the Senate reform bill, clearing the way for final passage by Christmas."

21 Dec 2009

Final Senate health bill includes many last-minute changes

New outlets detailed Majority Leader Harry Reid's final changes to the Senate health care bill.

21 Dec 2009

Senate compromise amendment to health reform bill includes Small Business provisions

Several provisions authored and promoted by U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., were included today into the Senate compromise amendment to The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

21 Dec 2009

How the Senate health reform deal happened

A number of news outlets deconstructed the activity before Senate Democrats achieved the 60th vote for their health reform bill.

20 Dec 2009

XSPA Profile of SAML and XSPA Profile of XACML approved as OASIS Standards for Healthcare

The OASIS international consortium today announced two new information standards that give hospitals, insurers, and others in the healthcare community much-needed mechanisms for exchanging privacy policies, evaluating consent directives, and determining authorizations.

19 Dec 2009

Data released by CIHI supports CNA's vision on nursing and health

A growing number of registered nurses (RNs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) are working in positions of first point of contact between patients and the health-care system, helping improve patient access to primary care and driving down wait times.

19 Dec 2009

$4.2M Medicare fraud: Three Detroit-area residents plead guilty

Jackson, Mich., resident Terrence Hicks and Detroit residents Muhammed Al Mahdi and John Saunders pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Michigan this week for their roles in a $4.2 million Medicare fraud scheme, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Terrence Berg of the Eastern District of Michigan, Special Agent in Charge Andrew G. Arena of the FBI's Detroit Field Office and Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today.

19 Dec 2009

'Help is Here Express' helps uninsured and financially-struggling patients with free prescription medicines

The Beaches Leader recently reported that the "Help is Here Express" bus tour visited Jacksonville Beach's Mission House to help uninsured and financially-struggling patients access information on programs that provide prescription medicines for free or nearly free.

19 Dec 2009

HHS Secretary releases new report highlighting health insurance reform

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today released a new report, Protecting Families and Putting More Money in Your Pocket: How Health Insurance Reform Will Lower Costs and Increase Choices.

19 Dec 2009

SUPPORT tools for evidence-informed health policymaking

A comprehensive review of evidence-informed health policymaking was recently launched in BioMed Central's journal Health Research Policy and Systems. This free supplement, entitled 'SUPPORT tools for evidence-informed health policymaking' provides an essential reference and set of tools that can be used by those involved in finding and using research evidence to support evidence-informed health policymaking.

19 Dec 2009

Majority of young adults support health reform legislation, says survey

An overwhelming majority-88 percent-of young adults across the political spectrum think it is important for Congress and the President to pass health reform legislation that would assure affordable health insurance for all and improve health care, according to a Commonwealth Fund survey released today.

19 Dec 2009