Obama warns that health costs will keep rising without action as he touts proposal in NJ

October 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.

September 25th, 2009 Health care issues: Overutilization of careA look at key issues in the nation's health care debate: THE ISSUE: Health care costs in the United States are far higher than in other countries without better outcomes, and most experts agree that's partly because of the excessive and often unnecessary use of expensive tests, surgeries and procedures. Will health overhaul legislation address this? THE POLITICS: Ezekiel Emanuel, an oncologist, White House adviser and brother of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, has written that there's a "perfect storm of overutilization" of health care in the United States that's the greatest contributor to high medical costs.

September 12th, 2009 States pushing back against health care overhaulLawmakers in eight states have considered proposals this year in opposition to federal health reform overhaul. Here's the status of those efforts: — In Arizona, lawmakers voted to put the measure on the 2010 ballot.

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 12th, 2009 AARP tells Obama: No health plan endorsement yetWASHINGTON — A group usually seen as one of Barack Obama's allies in the health care debate — AARP — says the president went too far Tuesday when he said the seniors lobby had endorsed the legislation pending in Congress. AARP is sensitive to the issue because polls show that Medicare beneficiaries are worried their health care program will be cut to subsidize coverage for the uninsured.

July 28th, 2009 Obama: Existing health system threatens MedicareWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is telling participants in an online forum on health care that the current system and its skyrocketing costs are a threat to Medicare. Obama says the Medicare trust fund will be in the red and out of money in a decade unless Washington overhauls the system.

July 17th, 2009 White House wants more power to set Medicare ratesWASHINGTON — The White House is asking Congress to give the executive branch more power to limit Medicare's rising costs. A White House letter to top lawmakers on Friday said the move would be "a critical step forward" in controlling health care costs and providing better care.

July 16th, 2009 Obama says without action, health costs will riseHOLMDEL, N.J. — President Barack Obama returned to campaign-style rhetoric on Thursday, telling a political rally that inaction is not an option and urging allies to push for his overhaul of the nation's health care system.

July 5th, 2009 Senators say compromise key to health care billWASHINGTON — It will take a compromise on a government option for insurance if the Senate is to agree on a health care overall before next month's break, two senators said Sunday. President Barack Obama is pushing for an Aug.

June 14th, 2009 Officials voice no support for health benefits taxWASHINGTON — Lawmakers and administration officials on Sunday distanced themselves from the idea of taxing health benefits to help pay President Barack Obama's health care overhaul and bickered over whether government insurance would strengthen the market. The debate over a government insurance plan has broken mainly along party lines.

June 14th, 2009 Senator says tax on health benefits is unnecessaryWASHINGTON — A leading Democratic senator says the idea of taxing health benefits is a bad one and unnecessary. Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut says that people are struggling economically at the moment and don't need a new tax on the health care benefits they receive.

June 14th, 2009 Sebelius says Obama plan would lower health costsWASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says the government health insurance plan proposed by the Obama administration would increase competition and drive down costs. Sebelius says President Barack Obama does not want to dismantle privately owned plans and does not want the 180 million people who have employer coverage to lose their insurance.

June 12th, 2009 HHS' Sebelius touts Obama health insurance planOMAHA, Neb. — Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Friday that Americans need a new government-sponsored insurance plan to guarantee choice and competition — especially in rural America.

June 2nd, 2009 Obama: Health overhaul necessaryWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says changes to the nation's health systems are necessary and the window for overhaul will close when Congress breaks for summer vacation. Obama met with lawmakers Tuesday at the White House.

April 29th, 2009 Fed sees signs recession may easingWASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve says it sees signs the recession may be easing but warns the economy is likely to remain weak. Against that backdrop the Fed held its key lending rate at a record low of between zero and 0.25 percent.