Biden reassures seniors: ‘Nobody is going to mess with your benefits’SILVER SPRING, Md. — Vice President Joe Biden sought to reassure nervous seniors Wednesday that they won’t see cuts in their Medicare benefits if the nation’s health care system is revamped. Biden reassures Md. seniors: ‘Nobody is going to mess with your benefits’SILVER SPRING, Md. — Vice President Joe Biden told seniors at a Maryland retirement community that health insurance reform would not hurt Medicare. Democrats and Republicans spar over health care bill’s effect on seniorsWASHINGTON — Sweeping health care legislation cleared its first hurdles in the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday as Democrats turned back a series of proposed changes by Republicans who attacked it as a threat to Medicare. Democrats reject GOP amendment to require health bill to be available online before voteWASHINGTON — Senate Finance Committee Democrats have rejected a GOP amendment that would have required a health overhaul bill to be available online for 72 hours before the committee votes. Finance Cte Dems turn back Republican push to let public see health bill language before voteWASHINGTON — Senate Finance Committee Democrats have rejected a GOP amendment that would have required a health overhaul bill to be available online for 72 hours before the committee votes. Democrats juggle competing priorities as Senate committee pushes forward on health care billDemocrats try to move on health bill; GOP objects WASHINGTON — Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus heard some encouraging words Wednesday from a key centrist Democrat as he opened the second day of a committee meeting to debate and vote on his sweeping health overhaul bill. Ga. residents suddenly surrounded by water get crash course in flood insuranceVININGS, Ga. — David Bush had a sweeping view of the Chattahoochee River from his backyard. And when he returned to his house Tuesday, the surging river was in his front yard, too. Congress’ budget chief contradicts Obama, says Medicare benefits would be cut under planWASHINGTON — Congress’ chief budget officer on Tuesday contradicted President Barack Obama’s oft-stated claim that seniors wouldn’t see their Medicare benefits cut under a health care overhaul. GOP leaders accuse Democrats of ‘gagging’ insurance companies’ criticism of health care billWASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers rebuked the Obama administration Tuesday for telling health insurance companies to stop warning elderly customers they’ll lose benefits in health care legislation, which some equated to a gag order. FACT CHECK: Obama says insurance mandate is not a tax, but legislation says otherwiseWASHINGTON — Memo to President Barack Obama: It’s a tax. HHS investigates Humana Medicare mailer warning seniors on health overhaulWASHINGTON — The Obama administration warned insurance companies Monday they face possible legal action for allegedly trying to scare seniors with misleading information about the potential for lost benefits under health care legislation in Congress. Who’s who: A look at the 23 members of the Senate Finance Committee as they debate health careThe Senate Finance Committee begins work on a health care overhaul bill Tuesday. A look at the committee members: Government not promising big results for new mortgage relief effortWASHINGTON — Dial back the pie-in-the-sky projections. Baucus plan would improve health care access but costs could still be a barrier for someWASHINGTON — You’re a 51-year-old single mother raising two kids and juggling a mortgage and a car loan. Because you’re self-employed, getting health insurance has always been a problem. Under the new Senate plan, you still might have to stretch your budget to pay premiums even if the coverage is more secure. HHS announces Medicare pilot program with incentive payments for better primary careWASHINGTON — The Obama administration announced a new Medicare pilot program Wednesday to strengthen primary care services for patients and cut costly emergency room visits — by offering financial incentives to doctors. Baucus health care plan raises plenty of concerns despite major concessions to industryWASHINGTON — Hospitals and drug makers like what they see in the early version of a health care plan that may evolve into the one that ends up on President Barack Obama’s desk. Despite major concessions to industry, Baucus plan raises plenty of concernsWASHINGTON — Hospitals and drug makers like what they see in the early version of a health care plan that may evolve into the one that ends up on President Barack Obama’s desk. Text of Obama’s speech to Congress on health care reformText of President Barack Obama’s address to Congress on health care reform Wednesday, as prepared for delivery and provided by the White House. FACT CHECK: Obama uses iffy math in pledging health insurance overhaul won’t fatten deficitWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama used only-in-Washington accounting Wednesday when he promised to overhaul the nation’s health care system without adding “one dime” to the deficit. By conventional arithmetic, Democratic plans would drive up the deficit by billions of dollars. Obama includes required coverage for all as part of health care overhaul proposalWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says individuals would be required to carry basic health insurance under his overhaul plan and businesses would have to offer workers health care or pay for part of insurance cost for their workers. HIV testing proposed to be added to Medicare coverageWASHINGTON — The government proposed Wednesday to have Medicare cover tests for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Wyden: Finance committee will begin deliberations later this monthWASHINGTON — A leading Senate negotiator acknowledged Wednesday that a bipartisan deal on health care is unlikely, vowing to move ahead on a bill fulfilling President Barack Obama’s top domestic priority whether it has Republican support or not. SPIN METER: Political opportunity makes a convert of the GOP on MedicareNEW YORK — Weren’t Republicans against Medicare before they were for it? Democrats hoping 2005 Social Security debacle is not blueprint for health care this yearWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s health care initiative is repeating history. No, not the failed attempt by President Bill Clinton in 1993. Right now, Obama’s troubled plan is on the same shaky ground that preceded President George W. Bush’ grand flop with Social Security. Seattle-based Group Health part of discussion on health co-ops in national reform debateOLYMPIA, Wash. — Group Health Cooperative was created in Washington state more than six decades ago, started up by members of local granges, unions and cooperatives who were inspired by a physician who had established America’s first cooperative hospital in Elk City, Oklahoma. Consumer group says 2 health insurers illegally told workers to lobby against health reformNEW YORK — A consumer group says health insurers UnitedHealth and WellPoint pressured their employees to contact members of Congress and lobby against health care reform proposals that the companies disagreed with. Waxman, Stupak probe whether insurers dump small businesses that become expensive to insureWASHINGTON — A top House Democrat is investigating whether the nation’s largest health insurers have deliberately canceled coverage for small businesses after their employees became sick and sought expensive treatment. Despite flaws in health care, Canadians bristle at American criticisms of their systemTORONTO — From screaming babies to frail seniors, Canadian-born or recent immigrants, the patients flow continuously through the waiting room of Dr. Kamini Kambli’s clinic. Most have made their appointments that day. None will receive a bill. Seniors, advocates say private Medicare plans put profits above care; Washington mulls changesMIAMI — Cecile Sangiamo liked her health insurance — until she needed to use it. CBO: Some seniors could see drug costs rise under House bill but on average would spend lessWASHINGTON — Some seniors could end up paying 20 percent more for their Medicare prescription drug plans under health care legislation in the House. |