Health care issues: Would the Medicare Advantage program see cuts in benefits?October 16th, 2009 Health care issues: What about Medicare Advantage?A look at key issues in the health care debate:
THE ISSUE: Would cuts in the various health care bills pending in Congress affect the benefits available in Medicare Advantage?
THE POLITICS: Medicare Advantage is part of Medicare, but is an alternative to the traditional fee-for-service program that covers most beneficiaries. Under Advantage, seniors can opt for plans offered by private companies that generally include all Medicare-covered services as well as additional benefits, such as lower co-pays and dental care.
Health care issues: What about a government-run single payer national health system?October 13th, 2009 Health care issues: A single-payer system?A look at key issues in the health care debate:
THE ISSUE: Should there be a government-run, single-payer national health care system?
THE POLITICS: A government-run health care system is attractive to many Democrats, who want access to health insurance for all, including about 45 million uninsured Americans. One proposal in Congress would establish a program to provide all people in the United States with free health care through a publicly financed but privately delivered system.
Health care issues: How to pay doctors under MedicareOctober 1st, 2009 Health care issues: Medicare payments to doctorsA look at key issues in the health care debate:
THE ISSUE: Should health care legislation include a so-called "doc fix" — funding to adjust Medicare reimbursements for doctors so that they don't face annual pay cuts?
THE POLITICS: Democrats in the House and President Barack Obama have said they want health care legislation to include $245 billion to adjust Medicare payments for physicians. The money would ensure doctors' pay isn't cut, and solve a payment problem that Congress has fixed piecemeal for years.
President Obama promises to start moving on immigration reform in CongressSeptember 20th, 2009 Obama embraces promise to move on immigrationWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says undocumented workers should not be included in the health care overhaul plan he's trying to push through Congress. He tells Univision's "Al Punto" show that if undocumented immigrants want to buy insurance, that's a matter to be settled with insurance companies.
Health care issues: What's the best treatment?September 16th, 2009 Health care issues: What's the best treatment?A look at key issues in the health care debate:
THE ISSUE: Researching which treatments work best and how much they cost, and how doctors and patients should use that information. THE POLITICS: On the surface, it seems like common sense: How different health conditions are treated — whether with surgery, drugs or managing diet and exercise, for example — should depend on what works best and costs least.
Obama travels to Minneapolis on Saturday for rally by supporters of health care overhaulSeptember 12th, 2009 Obama to attend health care rallyWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is traveling to Minneapolis for a rally on health care reform. Minnesota is an example of where Obama wants the rest of the country to go on health care.
Obama speech on health careSeptember 10th, 2009 US President Barack Obama delivered yet another motivating speech at the Joint Congress today about health care. He speaks about how US should and can come out of this recession hit economy and why our lives are to be secure first and then elevate later.
Health care issues: Government spendingSeptember 9th, 2009 Health care issues: Government spendingA look at key issues in the health care debate:
THE ISSUE: Can taxpayers afford new subsidies to provide health insurance for millions in such a weak economy?
THE POLITICS: With a comprehensive insurance policy averaging nearly $13,000 a year for a family, covering nearly 50 million uninsured doesn't come cheap. Estimates range from $100 billion to $150 billion a year.
Democratic senator says splitting health care bill into separate measures unlikely to workAugust 23rd, 2009 Senator: Single health care bill a better approachWASHINGTON — A key Democrat in the health care debate says separating out the various issues and putting them in different bills isn't likely to work. Some lawmakers have suggested that a separate bill with changes that are supported by Republicans and Democrats would be one route toward progress on the health care overhaul.
Obama confident health care overhaul coming soon, speaks of 'about 80 agreement' in CongressAugust 16th, 2009 Obama confident health care overhaul coming soonWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says he's confident his drive to overhaul health care will succeed. The president writes in Sunday's New York Times about "health insurance reform" and says his attempt to overhaul the system is closer to reality "than we have ever been."
Obama cites support from the American Nurses Association, the powerful American Medical Association and the AARP for big changes.
Obama: Congress must act before August recess on health care overhaulJuly 15th, 2009 Obama praises progress on health care overhaulWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says his administration will push through an overhaul of the nation's health care system and is urging Congress to finish the work before leaving for an August recess. Obama on Wednesday praised House and Senate versions of a bill to expand health care coverage to millions of Americans.
Obama tells Congress he wants health care legislation by August recessJuly 10th, 2009 Obama to Congress: Health care legislation by Aug.L'AQUILA, Italy — Despite snags in Congress, President Barack Obama says his administration is closer to achieving health care reform than at any time in recent history. He says he hopes Congress will pass health care legislation by the August recess but "nothing is do or die."
Obama says he is making health care his "highest legislative priority".
With Congress away, Obama takes health care pitch on the road and via the InternetJuly 1st, 2009 Obama takes health care pitch to VirginiaWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is taking his pitch for health care revisions to Virginia, holding a town hall forum and fielding questions via the Internet. Congress will fully engage in the health care debate when it returns Monday from a one-week recess.
Obama says Congress progressing, must stick with hard work to overhaul US health care systemJune 23rd, 2009 Obama voicing confidence on health care changesWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says he's "very optimistic" about the prospects for legislation revamping health care, arguing that the country simply must control skyrocketing costs in this field. He told a news conference th at unless the government acts now, the country will spend $1 out of every $5 on health care within the next 10 years.
President Obama says he won't push health care plan on Congress, ready to hear other proposalsJune 11th, 2009 Obama: Cooperation with Hill needed on health careGREEN BAY, Wis. — President Barack Obama is vowing that he won't run roughshod over Congress in putting together legislation overhauling the country's health care system.