02/08/2010
In an opinion piece, Joseph Rago speaks with Angela Braly -- the CEO of WellPoint, the nation's largest commercial insurer by membership -- about her take on the health care reform debate. She also said health insurers support health care reform proposals that would tackle the issue of health care costs and criticized current reform bills that would increase regulations on insurers. WellPoint is the parent company of Anthem Blue Cross of California. Wall Street Journal.
02/08/2010
In a Superbowl pre-game interview, President Obama called for a half-day meeting on health care reform with both Republicans and Democrats in attendance. The White House resisted calls from Republican leaders to scrap current reform legislation and restart talks, and aides said the president would attend the meeting with a merged version of the Senate and House bills. New York Times et al.
02/05/2010
President Obama said that once lawmakers work out differences between House and Senate health care overhaul plans, he wants to a hold a public debate with lawmakers of both parties and independent experts on the merits of the plan. New York Times' "Prescriptions," AP/San Francisco Chronicle.
02/05/2010
During a forum yesterday, experts noted that California might be on its own in efforts to expand health care coverage to uninsured residents. However, the state might face difficulty adding more residents to its already strained Medi-Cal program. Sacramento Bee, AP/Fresno Bee.
02/04/2010
President Obama continued making the rounds among congressional caucuses yesterday and called on the Senate Democratic caucus to stay committed to enacting health care reform legislation. The president appeared before House Republicans last week. The Hill et al.
02/04/2010
Mark Smith, CEO of the California HealthCare Foundation, recently sat down with Health Affairs Editor-in-Chief Susan Dentzer to discuss CHCF's experiences working to modernize the enrollment process in public assistance programs and pushing other changes to the health care delivery system, as well as potential initiatives if national health care reform passes. Health Affairs.
02/03/2010
The central message from President Obama's appearance in New Hampshire yesterday was a new job creation program, but he also said that he remains committed to getting health care reform legislation through Congress. New York Times et al.
02/02/2010
Last week, the Senate approved pay-as-you-go rules but exempted from the legislation $82 billion in funding that could go to offset scheduled payment reductions for Medicare physicians for five years. Congress would have to authorize the funding to avert the pay cuts, the first of which kicks in March 1. Politico et al.
02/02/2010
On Monday, House Education and Labor Committee Chair George Miller (D-Calif.) said he is confident lawmakers will pass health care reform this year. According to some reports, Democrats are pursuing a strategy in which the House would pass the Senate bill and send it back with amendments to the Senate under a budget reconciliation process that requires only a simple majority vote. Contra Costa Times.
02/02/2010
A recent proposal to create a single-payer health care system in California is one of several state efforts nationwide to expand coverage to more residents. Proponents of SB 810 say the measure could help set the stage for a future ballot initiative. Wall Street Journal, Contra Costa Times.
02/02/2010
California would receive about $1.5 billion in additional Medi-Cal funding as part of the $25 billion allotted for state Medicaid programs under President Obama's latest budget plan. However, California's proposed share still falls short of the $6.9 billion federal funding request sought by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and other state officials. Los Angeles Times et al.
02/01/2010
Today, President Obama released his latest budget proposal, which is estimated to cost about $3.8 trillion. The budget would provide more funds to state Medicaid programs by extending a program from the 2009 federal economic stimulus package. New York Times et al.
02/01/2010
Democratic leaders in the House and Senate say they are considering the budget reconciliation process and other strategies to pass national health care reform legislation, despite the loss of their filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers are calling for Congress to start over on health care reform and pursue different approaches. CQ Today et al.
01/29/2010
In a nearly party-line vote, the California Senate voted yesterday to approve a bill that would create a single-payer health care system in the state. Gov. Schwarzenegger has pledged to veto the measure if it reaches his desk. San Francisco Chronicle et al.
01/29/2010
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other Democratic congressional leaders pledged to continue work on health care reform, but acknowledged that the issue will take a back seat to job creation on the congressional agenda. Politico et al.