The Los Angeles Times: “Obama’s signature ability to inspire fellow Democrats and Pelosi’s well-honed ability to read their parochial needs will be tested as they tackle the job of finding the last stubborn votes for the healthcare bill. … “Under the Democrats’ strategy, the House would pass the Senate’s version of the bill…
The Los Angeles Times analyzes how insurance costs became a focal point: “The Democrats’ bill was in serious trouble when news broke of planned rate hikes by the California insurer. … Anthem Blue Cross was seeking double-digit rate increases for many of its 800,000 individual policyholders. Company executives had little reason to worry…
States are having to make budgetary decisions about their health care systems as federal legislation and funding continue to be tied up in Congress. Minnesota Daily: Lawmakers in Minnesota have revealed a plan to temporarily extend the General Assistance Medical Care plan before replacing it “with a trimmed-down delivery system managed largely by hospitals. …
In a letter to the CEOs of UnitedHealth Group Inc., WellPoint Inc., Aetna Inc., Health Care Service Corporation and CIGNA HealthCare Inc., U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius called on the executives to publicly justify proposed health insurance premium increases. Sebelius’ letter comes after a meeting last week with these executives at the White House…
Slate Column Refutes Stupak’s Claim That Senate Health Reform Bill Includes Federal Abortion Funding
Rep. Bart Stupak’s (D-Mich.) claim that the Senate health reform bill (HR 3590) would allow taxpayer dollars to be used to cover abortion services “concerns (or at least pretends to concern) matters of fact, not belief,” Slate columnist Timothy Noah writes…