Health care issues: Medicare cutsOctober 6th, 2009 Health care issues: Medicare cutsA look at key issues in the health care debate:
THE ISSUE: Will seniors' Medicare benefits be slashed to pay for health care overhaul?
THE POLITICS: Democrats are proposing to reduce the ballooning costs of Medicare to keep the program solvent. They want to root out waste to find the savings, and to reduce payments to some providers.
HIV testing proposed to be added to Medicare coverageSeptember 9th, 2009 HIV testing proposed for Medicare coverageWASHINGTON — The government proposed Wednesday to have Medicare cover tests for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. "This proposal to cover HIV screening for our Medicare population has great potential in terms of saving lives and improving the quality of life for many seniors, as well as beneficiaries under age 65," said Charlene Frizzera, acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Obama: Medicare trust fund will not be used to pay for health care overhaulSeptember 9th, 2009 Obama: 'I will protect Medicare'WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Wednesday night promised to protect Medicare and reassured the elderly that Medicare funds would not be used to pay for a health care overhaul. The president said the plan would eliminate billions of dollars in waste and fraud and what he called the "unwarranted subsidies" that go to insurance companies.
Federal officials say monthly payments for Medicare drug coverage to rise $2 next yearAugust 14th, 2009 Medicare drug premiums to rise slightly in 2010WASHINGTON — Seniors enrolled in Medicare can expect to see a $2 increase in their monthly payment for prescription drug coverage next year. Medicare officials announced late Thursday that the average monthly premium for the government's drug plan will be $30 next year, up from $28 this year.
Obama says savings in Medicare won't mean cuts in benefits to seniorsJuly 23rd, 2009 Obama says Medicare benefits won't be cutWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says cutting Medicare costs won't mean cuts in benefits to seniors. He says his goal instead is to change how those benefits are delivered, to make them more efficient.
Obama says Congress agrees with him on broad health careJuly 23rd, 2009 Obama: Lots of agreement on health overhaulWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says lawmakers and he are in general agreement on important parts of a potential health care overhaul. Obama planned to say Wednesday night that the proposals would add stability to existing plans.
Senate Democrats focus health care talks on hospitals and GOPJuly 7th, 2009 Hospitals, Democrats near deal on health careWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Tuesday welcomed progress on health care overhaul as top Senate Democrats and the administration closed in on a deal with hospitals to help pay for the president's proposed expansion of medical coverage to the uninsured. Several officials said Monday that after talks involving the White House and Sen.
Under emerging deal, hospitals would help pay Obama's health care expansionJuly 6th, 2009 Top Dem senator, hospitals near health care dealWASHINGTON — With health care legislation at a crossroads, the nation's hospitals are near agreement with a key lawmaker and the White House to pick up part of the cost of President Barack Obama's plan for expanded coverage, officials said Monday. The precise size of any deal was not available, although several days ago, talks were focused in the range of $150 billion to $155 billion over a decade.
Industry pledge to narrow drug coverage gap contingent on health care overhaulJune 22nd, 2009 Drug deal valid if Congress overhauls health careWASHINGTON — Hailed by President Barack Obama, a multi-billion-dollar promise by drug companies to narrow a Medicare drug coverage gap for seniors is valid only if Congress succeeds in passing a comprehensive health care bill encountering strong opposition from Republicans, an industry spokesman said Monday. The commitment was "made in the context of comprehensive health care reform being enacted," said Ken Johnson, senior vice president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.
Obama announces agreement with pharmaceutical companies on Medicare drug coverageJune 22nd, 2009 Obama announces agreement with drug companiesWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Monday welcomed the pharmaceutical industry's agreement to help close a gap in Medicare's drug coverage, calling the pact a step forward in the push for overhaul of the nation's health care system. Obama said that drug companies have pledged to spend $80 billion over the next decade to help reduce the cost of drugs for seniors and pay for a portion of Obama's health care legislation.
White House, congressional leaders, drug companies negotiate closing Medicare gapJune 20th, 2009 Drug companies may narrow Medicare coverage gapWASHINGTON — The pharmaceutical industry would finance improved coverage under the Medicare prescription drug program and help defray the cost of President Barack Obama's health care legislation under an $80 billion deal with key lawmakers and the White House that officials said Friday night was close to agreement. These officials said the 10-year proposal under discussion would have drug firms pay as much as half of the cost of brand-name drugs for lower and middle-income seniors in the so-called "doughnut hole."
Medicare patients with incomes up to about $80,000 would realize some benefit.
Drug companies would pay for some Medicare prescriptions under emerging $80 billion dealJune 20th, 2009 Emerging deal with drug industry on health careWASHINGTON — Medicare beneficiaries would receive better drug coverage and a portion of President Barack Obama's health care legislation would be paid for under an emerging agreement involving the pharmaceutical industry, the White House and key lawmakers. Several officials said Friday night that agreement on the $80 billion deal was close, and one said it had been sealed.
Drug industry would pay for some Medicare prescriptions under emerging $80 billion dealJune 20th, 2009 Emerging $80B deal would help fund Medicare drugsWASHINGTON — Medicare beneficiaries would receive better drug coverage and a portion of President Barack Obama's health care legislation would be paid for under an emerging agreement involving the pharmaceutical industry, the White House and key lawmakers. Several officials said Friday night that agreement on the $80 billion deal was close, and one said it had been sealed.
Drug companies would pay for some Medicare prescriptions under $80 billion dealJune 20th, 2009 Baucus, White House in deal with drug industryWASHINGTON — The pharmaceutical industry agreed Saturday to spend $80 billion over the next decade improving drug benefits for seniors on Medicare and defraying the cost of President Barack Obama's health care legislation, capping secretive negotiations involving key lawmakers and the White House. "This new coverage means affordable prices on prescription drugs when Medicare benefits don't cover the cost of prescriptions," Sen.
CBO says Senate bill would cost at least $1 trillion over 10 years, insure 16 millionJune 15th, 2009 CBO: Senate bill $1 trillion over 10 yearsWASHINGTON — A leading health care bill under consideration in Congress would cost the government an estimated $1 trillion over the next decade and reduce the ranks of the uninsured by about one-third, or 16 million individuals, congressional budget officials said Monday in a preliminary estimate. In a letter to Sen.
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