Obama to meet Monday with doctors, speak about need for reforming health care

October 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.

September 16th, 2009 Obama visits Hispanic caucus' galaWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is pushing his ambitious health care overhaul to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. Obama plans to speak to the group's black-tie gala Wednesday evening in Washington.

September 15th, 2009 Health care issues: Shortage of doctorsA look at key issues in the health care debate: THE ISSUE: Will there be enough doctors to provide care to millions of previously uninsured patients if health reform is passed? THE POLITICS: With primary-care doctors in limited supply, Republicans opposed to sweeping reform say the health care system would be overwhelmed if nearly 50 million uninsured Americans are given coverage. As is, the American Academy of Family Physicians is predicting a shortage of 40,000 primary-care doctors by 2020, with medical schools graduating only half the number needed to meet demand.

September 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.

September 9th, 2009 Obama to look at medical malpractice changesWASHINGTON — In his appeal to Congress for health care reform, President Barack Obama isn't ignoring calls for changes in medical malpractice laws. Obama told lawmakers and a national TV audience Wednesday night that he wants to look at a "range of ideas" to "put patient safety first and let doctors focus on practicing medicine." Obama says some in Congress believe medical malpractice reform can help bring down health care costs.

August 31st, 2009 Obama to address AFL-CIO conventionWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will speak at the AFL-CIO convention in Pittsburgh next month. Obama will address the labor convention on Sept.

August 13th, 2009 Palin says Obama brushes off reform concernsANCHORAGE, Alaska — Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin claims President Barack Obama is making light of concerns over what she has called "death panels" determining or denying care in the Democratic health care proposal.

August 11th, 2009 Obama defends health care effort against criticsPORTSMOUTH, N.H. — President Barack Obama is defending his health care overhaul against criticism that it would be a government takeover.

August 11th, 2009 Obama delivers a fact-check on "death panels"PORTSMOUTH, N.H — President Barack Obama is seeking to put to rest claims that the health care overhaul he seeks would set up "death panels" to rule on life-sustaining care for ailing seniors. It would not, and Obama stressed the point during a town hall meeting Tuesday in Portsmouth, N.H.

August 4th, 2009 WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama turned 48 Tuesday and plans to spend part of his birthday meeting with the 58 Democrats in the Senate to push his health care plan. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Obama will discuss health care and the economy during the meeting.

July 21st, 2009 Budget chief: Docs fees not paid for in Obama billWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's pledge to make sure health care legislation is fully paid for excludes $245 billion to raise fees for doctors treating Medicare patients, a senior administration official said Tuesday. Peter Orszag, the budget director, said the administration always had assumed the money would be spent to prevent a cut of more than 20 percent in doctor fees that is scheduled to take effect.

July 20th, 2009 Obama: pass health overhaul by end of yearWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama pushed back hard against critics of his health care overhaul plan Monday, vowing to fight "the politics of the moment" and press for passage of legislation by the end of the year. "We can't afford the politics of delay and defeat when it comes to health care," Obama said after meeting with doctors, nurses and other health care workers at Children's National Medical Center.

July 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.

July 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.

May 11th, 2009 Obama's Day: Health care, basketballWASHINGTON — Reforming the health care system to make it affordable for all Americans is one of President Barack Obama's top priorities. Obama plans to talk Monday about a health care industry offer of $2 trillion in spending reductions over 10 years to help pay for the program.