Cracks and strains: Many of the deals that the White House has been cutting all year with health industry leaders are starting to show the cracks and strains of political pressures in Congress. While all the news this week focused on the Senate Finance Committee reporting out a ghost bill with one Republican vote, health reform is far from the finish line. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) said it best: … [Read more...] about Humpty Dumpty Health Reform?
Making Policy by Headlines
Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus got the headline he wanted out of The New York Times today: “Health care bill gets green light in cost analysis.” And the lead in the paper’s first editions was even better for him: “Democrats rejoiced over news that the Senate’s measure met White House expectations and would reduce the deficit.” Which goes to show that the … [Read more...] about Making Policy by Headlines
Darkness Before Dawn?
In the bizarre, upside-down world of Washington, Sen. Jon Kyl (R., Ariz.) tried and failed to convince his colleagues on the Senate Finance Committee last week to drop a $40 billion tax on medical devices from its health-reform bill, arguing correctly that the tax simply will be passed on to consumers in the form of higher costs.Recalling that one of the primary goals of the reform effort is to … [Read more...] about Darkness Before Dawn?
Darkness Before Dawn?
In the bizarre, upside-down world of Washington, Sen. Jon Kyl (R., Ariz.) tried and failed to convince his colleagues on the Senate Finance Committee last week to drop a $40 billion tax on medical devices from its health-reform bill, arguing correctly that the tax simply will be passed on to consumers in the form of higher costs.Recalling that one of the primary goals of the reform effort is to … [Read more...] about Darkness Before Dawn?
Beltway Hothouse
Highlights Plowing ahead Doctors weigh in A new poll O Canada Galen news Featured articles Let's hope this is the darkness before the dawn because the feeling in Washington right now is gloomy among those who believe in freedom, markets, and individual control over health care decisions. Congress is plowing ahead to get health reform done this year, no matter what the American people … [Read more...] about Beltway Hothouse
Poll Finds End to Summer Slide in Support for Overhaul
The Kaiser Family Foundation said Tuesday that its latest tracking poll shows 57 percent of Americans now believe tackling a health overhaul is more important than ever, up from 53 percent in August.Forty-two percent of Americans now believe their family would be better off if an overhaul passes, up from 36 percent in August, the poll also found. And the percentage who believe the country would be … [Read more...] about Poll Finds End to Summer Slide in Support for Overhaul
Poll Finds End to Summer Slide in Support for Overhaul
The Kaiser Family Foundation said Tuesday that its latest tracking poll shows 57 percent of Americans now believe tackling a health overhaul is more important than ever, up from 53 percent in August.Forty-two percent of Americans now believe their family would be better off if an overhaul passes, up from 36 percent in August, the poll also found. And the percentage who believe the country would be … [Read more...] about Poll Finds End to Summer Slide in Support for Overhaul
Why the Rush?
Congressional leaders and the White House are pushing forward with their aggressive agenda to remake our health sector as though they are oblivious to the fear and outrage outside the Beltway and the pleas of the American people to apply the brakes. Only one in five Americans say their health-insurance coverage and the quality of the care they receive will improve if a bill passes Congress … [Read more...] about Why the Rush?