Under the Microscope

Health Care Headlines

• Obama Not Stressing Aug. Deadline
  In his most recent remarks, President Obama has stopped mentioning what had been his mantra — that the House and Senate finish their health-care bills by the August recess — and switched to a less specific call to fast action. [Politico, 7/18/2009] Read a related article here.
• President Is Set to ‘Take the Baton’
  Six months into his presidency, Barack Obama may have no greater test of his ability to translate personal popularity into a successful legislative agenda than the upcoming two weeks. [Washington Post, 7/20/2009]
  Read about what the President, the First Lady, and the Vice President are doing.
• With Health Reform, Waxman Takes On Another Tall Order
  For his first feat this legislative session, Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) staged a coup and deposed a sitting chairman and dean of the House. He followed that up with a nail-biter victory in the House for his beloved climate change bill. [Washington Post, 7/20/2009]
  Read a related article on Chairman Waxman.
• Doctors’ Payments Snag Health Bill
  A plan to end a program that would cut government payments to doctors is emerging as the flash point in the debate over whether President Barack Obama's effort to overhaul the health system would increase the federal budget deficit. [Wall Street Journal, 7/20/2009]
• Leaders Facing a Big Sales Job on Health Bill
  Determining the trajectory of health care in the House depends on your vantage point. The view from the top is apparently rosy, as House Democratic leaders gathered Friday at a rah-rah news conference to boast that the measure was picking up steam after clearing two of three committees. [Roll Call, 7/20/2009]
• Small-Business Support Sought on Health Care
  Small business is suddenly playing a big role in negotiations over health care. Supporters and opponents of various plans to overhaul the system are all trying to paint themselves as champions of mom and pop entrepreneurs. [NPR, 7/17/2009]
• Reform Pits City Hospitals Vs. Rural
  Large, urban teaching hospitals - including hospitals that are the biggest engines in the Boston economy - are facing the possible loss of hundreds of millions of dollars under national healthcare reform as rural lawmakers on Capitol Hill wage a fight to win more federal cash for their local institutions.
  [Boston Globe, 7/19/2009]
• OPINION: Why Obama Likes His Odds
  By E.J. Dionne
  It was not the soaring rhetoric that is Barack Obama's signature, but he recently offered the sound bite that may define his presidency: "Don't bet against us." [Washington Post, 7/20/2009]
• OPINION: Preserve Seniors’ Independence
  By Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
  Americans born in 1900 lived on average to be 47 years old. Life expectancy for those born in 2005 is 78 years. In a little more than 100 years, the life span of Americans has increased by more than 30 years. [Roll Call, 7/20/2009] Read a related article.
• OPINION: Reduce Risk of Disease for Elderly
  By. Rep. Lois Capps, BSN (D-CA)
  It may come as a surprise to many readers that the No. 1 killer of American women is a disease most associated with men — cardiovascular disease. [Roll Call, 7/20/2009]
• OPINION: We Can Limit Rehospitalizations
  By Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
  Reaching agreement in Washington, D.C., can be difficult, but one thing we all agree on is that our health care system is broken and must be fixed. [Roll Call, 7/20/2009]
• OPINION: Elmendorf: More Cost Control; Orszag: We’re Already On It
  By Jonathan Cohn
  Doug Elmendorf, director of the Congressional Budget Office, sent tremors through Washington when he gave congressional testimony on Thursday. [New Republic, 7/17/2009]
• LETTER: Instilling Healthy Habits
  By Clarence Pearson, former director for health and safety education at MetLife & founding president, National Center for Health Education
  As comprehensive health care reform takes center stage, President Obama and our legislative leaders once again are facing the inevitable challenges of paying for health care. Emphasis on the importance of early childhood health promotion, health education and disease prevention will have an impact on a person’s health over a lifetime, probably more than any short-term medical intervention solutions being proposed. [New York Times, 7/18/2009]