Health Reform in the House
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Fact of the Day
In 2007, 39 percent of the working-age population, or 72 million people, had at least one chronic health condition, such as diabetes, asthma or depression.
(Center for Studying Health System Change)
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Health Resources
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Under the Microscope
REPORT: How We Can Pay for Health Care Reform
In this paper and brief, the authors discuss alternative ways that health reform could be financed. They analyze different options including several proposals for delivery system reforms and for reduction in Medicare and Medicaid payments. They estimate the cost savings that could occur due to the introduction of a public plan option. Finally, they explore a range of revenue options. The key message of the paper is that health reform can be paid for, but it is best to obtain funds from a large number of measures to spread the burden broadly.
[Urban Institute, 7/5/2009] Read the summary.
Health Care Headlines
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Obama’s Charm School is in Session
President Barack Obama is wading deeper into the health care debate, hosting dozens of lawmakers at the White House since the middle of July in an outburst of personal presidential diplomacy designed to prod legislation toward a vote. [Roll Call, 8/5/2009] Read a related article.
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Groups Take Health-Reform Debate to Airwaves
The increasingly heated fight over health-care legislation is saturating the summer airwaves, with groups on all sides of the debate pouring tens of millions of dollars into advertising campaigns designed to push the cause of reform forward, slow it down or stop it in its tracks. [Washington Post, 8/5/2009]
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Blue Dogs Spend Recess Listening
Blue Dog Democrats are happy to be spending their August listening to constituents talk about health care reform — and not have to be defending a vote on it. [Roll Call, 8/5/2009]
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Why a Doctor in Congress Has No Health Insurance
Rep. Steve Kagen is a doctor, a Democrat and, as far as his office has been able to determine, the only member of Congress who does not have any kind of health insurance. [Politics Daily, 8/5/2009]
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Bipartisan Negotiators Wrestle With Affordability of Plans
Senate Finance Committee members aiming to negotiate a bipartisan overhaul agreement wrestled Tuesday evening with the details of an issue that could prove to be a political powder keg if they get it wrong: making sure plans are affordable in a revamped system in which individual Americans are required to carry health insurance coverage. [CQ HealthBeat, 8/4/2009]
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OPINION: Health Reform, Long-Term
By Mark Mellman, democratic pollster
Though unnerved by uncertainties about what Washington is offering, Americans are still demanding healthcare reform. [The Hill, 8/4/2009]
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OPINION: The Politics of Sacrifice
By Michael A. Cohen, senior research fellow at the New America Foundation
Today, nearly 50 million Americans lack health care coverage, the average American is often one serious illness away from financial ruin and every year nearly 20,000 Americans die because they don’t have health insurance. [Politico, 8/5/2009]
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OPINION: Orszag vs the CBO: Round Two
By Ezra Klein
Peter Orszag and the Office of Management and Budget have fired another shot at the Congressional Budget Office this morning, releasing a letter signed by an assemblage of health-care wonks all of whom believe that Orszag's Independent Medicare Advisory Council could save some serious money. [Washington Post, 8/4/2009]
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