01/05/2009
HHS Secretary-designate Tom Daschle attended community meetings aimed at gathering public input on the health care system. The meetings are part of a larger effort intended to build public support for health care reform as President-elect Barack Obama prepares to take office. New York Times et al.
01/05/2009
Not-for-profit foundations in California are opening offices in Sacramento in hopes of taking a more direct role in health care policy discussions. The foundations will have to follow federal regulations that bar them from lobbying or engaging in partisan politics. Los Angeles Times.
01/05/2009
Enrollment has jumped in a Massachusetts program aimed at helping unemployed people maintain health insurance coverage. Meanwhile, Rhode Island lawmakers are gearing up to debate an agreement with CMS to rework the state's Medicaid program.
01/05/2009
The legislative campaign for a single-payer health care system is moving into its second decade in California with newly elected state Sen. Mark Leno ready to deal with same governor who opposes the plan and a weakening economy. by George Lauer
12/22/2008
Florida officials waived a requirement for residents to be uninsured for six months before enrolling in a new state coverage program, and Utah lawmakers unveiled a plan for a 10-year effort to overhaul the state's health care system. Meanwhile, a number of states are considering cuts to Medicaid to close budget gaps.
12/22/2008
A new Washington Post-ABC News poll found that 77% of U.S. adults believe that President-elect Barack Obama should make major changes to the U.S. health care system. Sixty-eight percent of adults believe that Obama will have the ability to make such reforms. Washington Post.
12/19/2008
Two reports from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimate that plans offered by President-elect Barack Obama and other Democrats to reduce health care costs would yield moderate savings. CBO evaluated more than 100 plans for the reports. Bloomberg/Philadelphia Inquirer et al.
12/19/2008
On Thursday, incoming House Energy and Commerce Chair Henry Waxman and Rep. John Dingell, the committee's former chair, announced that they have reached an unusual power-sharing agreement in which Waxman will yield the lead role in drafting health care reform legislation to Dingell. The Hill.
12/18/2008
California Rep. Pete Stark said that Congress could wait to vote on legislation to overhaul the health care system until late in 2009 or 2010. Stark said that lawmakers first will have to direct their attention to smaller-scale health care matters and other "deferred maintenance" issues. The Hill et al.
12/17/2008
Insurers are urging employees and satisfied health plan members to participate in community meetings and house parties focused on health care reform. The transition team of President-elect Barack Obama is using the forums to collect feedback on the health care system. New York Times.
12/15/2008
Among other proposals, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle has called for greater emphasis on cost-efficacy in determining what medications, medical devices and other procedures should be covered. Daschle is working to avoid snags that the Clinton health care plan encountered in the 1990s. Los Angeles Times et al.
12/15/2008
A health care advocacy group in Connecticut is gearing up to propose a health care expansion in the upcoming legislative session, and the Florida governor inked deals with six insurers as part of an effort to expand coverage. Meanwhile, the North Dakota governor called for expanding children's health coverage in his state.
12/12/2008
President-elect Barack Obama yesterday nominated former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle as HHS secretary. Obama said Daschle also will take a lead role in crafting the administration's proposal to overhaul the U.S. health care system. Reuters et al.
12/11/2008
In an opinion piece, Lloyd Dean, president and CEO of Catholic Healthcare West, and Bruce Bodaken, chair and CEO of Blue Shield of California, argue that health care reform can succeed, "but it will require the key players in the health care system to take risks and make compromises to be part of the solution." They urged other health care leaders to join their new coalition, called "Health CEOs for Health Reform." San Francisco Chronicle.
12/11/2008
At a news conference today, President-elect Barack Obama is expected to announce his health care priorities and formally tap former Sen. Tom Daschle as his HHS secretary. Washington Times.