Medicaid enrollees and their advocates, medical research lobbyists, and jobless Americans at risk of losing their health benefits may be among those cheering the loudest for economic stimulus provisions hammered out by Hill negotiators in anticipation of House and Senate action to quickly send the measure to the White House for President Obama’s signature. Read more »
States would receive $87 billion in additional Medicaid money, doctors, and hospitals would receive $19 billion to help the adopt health information technology systems, and unemployed workers who met certain income levels would receive financial assistance to help them afford health insurance for up to nine months as part of economic stimulus legislation scheduled for a House vote last Friday. Read more »
Can House and Senate support for the SCHIP bill that recently became law be parlayed into support for a broader health overhaul bill? Maybe with a little friendly persuasion. Read more »
While the new Congress is shaping up as one in which Democrats run into a GOP wall when they try to pass their pet proposals, the ability of Oregon Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden to attract the support of staunch Republicans for his health overhaul plan offers a striking contrast--and assures that the plan will get plenty of publicity. Read more »
House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr., D-N.J., said he wants to draft a comprehensive health care plan within the first year of President Obama’s administration. Read more »
Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad warned fellow lawmakers against health overhaul plans that would add "hundreds of billions of dollars" to the nation’s health care tab, saying they face "a heavy burden" making the argument for such changes. Read more »