healthinsurance.org » health reform

’44′ gives 44 words to health reform - State of the Union leaves reform supporters curious as to President's state of mind regarding health reform law

healthinsurance.org contributor — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:56:02 +0000

Some will be disappointed that President Obama barely mentioned health care reform in his State of the Union address last night. In a speech that focused on the military, manufacturing, education, and energy, health care received very few mentions.

what we can learn from The Biggest Loser - individual mandate isn't 'just what the doctor ordered'; it's an order for Americans to visit their doctors

Steve Anderson — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:02:55 +0000

Dr. "H" Rob Huizenga of "The Biggest Loser" knows that education equals motivation for folks who need to change unhealthy behavior. The individual mandate could do the same: getting more folks back to doctors for the treatment - and education - that they need. (Photo courtesy of NBCUniversal)

Congress ‘hangs up’ on program created to help those frustrated with health insurance - Texas - state with most uninsured - is among first to prepare for shutdown of consumer assistance program

Jan Greene — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:52:07 +0000

These are telephone hotlines providing callers with knowledgeable human beings to help with health insurance problems. Now, sadly, Congress seems to be allowing the program to die an early death, declining to fund it beyond the initial $30 million, which was distributed to 35 states.

book examines battles over health reform - book review: "Remedy and Reaction: The Peculiar Struggle over Health Reform" by Paul Starr

healthinsurance.org contributor — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:16:08 +0000

For anyone who wonders how the battle over health reform came to dominate so much of the nation's attention over the past few years – and whether the battle will ever end – Paul Starr provides answers in Remedy and Reaction: The Peculiar American Struggle over Health Reform.

2011: a very good year for health reform - the ACA improved Americans' access to health coverage this year - in more ways than you may have realized

healthinsurance.org contributor — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 16:51:49 +0000

You will hear a lot of bashing of "Obamacare" during the current political season. But while we wait for full implementation of health reform in 2014, there have been meaningful changes that are helping American families every day.

how health reform’s 10 essential benefits could improve your insurance coverage … - ... and how state "flexibility" will affect your benefits

healthinsurance.org contributor — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 23:21:53 +0000

The fact that the Affordable Care Act defines ten mandatory categories of "essential benefits" provides a "floor" of coverage that can not be taken away. After 2014, no plan offered to individuals or small groups can exclude maternity care, prescription drugs, rehabilitation or habilitation services, or mental health services, to mention a few.

Pollack: ensuring young adults’ coverage now saves us all money down the line - 2.5 million previously uninsured young adults now have health coverage, thanks to Affordable Care Act

healthinsurance.org Guest Blogger — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:02:20 +0000

Ensuring young adults are covered now saves us all money down the line and gives parents and their kids the peace of mind that they'll have coverage they can count on when they need it the most.

health reform has eyes of Newt - individual mandate has many fathers, so why do they vilify the one who adopted the child?

Chuck Smith-Dewey — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 04:55:22 +0000

It’s been widely accepted that Mitt Romney is the father of what Republicans have tagged “Obamacare.” The legislation he signed into law in Massachusetts became the blueprint for national health care reform. But there is plenty of paternity credit to go around: the individual mandate – the requirement that all Americans must purchase health insurance [...]

for health insurance consumers, medical loss ratio is gift that will keep on giving - health reform law's MLR rule ensures that consumers' health premiums cover more medical care, less marketing

healthinsurance.org contributor — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 17:42:16 +0000

It is heartening to know that the medical loss ratio rule will keep a lid on the amount of our premiums that can be spent on marketing, salaries, and other non-medical activities going forward. For the 99 percent of us, this 80 percent gift is a gift that will keep on giving.

what has the health reform law done for you, lately? probably more than you think. - 18 months after implementation began, Americans are overlooking laundry list of health care improvements

healthinsurance.org contributor — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:01:24 +0000

Most of the health reform act pertaining to the uninsured and restraining health care costs will not be implemented until 2014. But in the last year and a half, there have been some substantial changes in health care that you may not have noticed.

the red herring called HR 3000 - tone deaf Herman Cain invokes imaginary solution for real health care problems

Chuck Smith-Dewey — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:58:05 +0000

The Conservative Action Alert Web site starts its article with the observation “There’s an old saying: ‘You can’t fight something with nothing.’” It was gleefully touting a bill introduced by Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), but they could as easily been providing post-debate analysis from last night’s Republican slugfest in Michigan. The strains of “repeal Obamacare” from [...]

know your state health insurance exchange - state exchanges - and major changes - are in the works. is your state building a consumer-friendly marketplace?

Steve Anderson — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 22:37:53 +0000

Whether you’re happy about it or not, your state is, at this very moment, very likely moving to set up a state health insurance exchange. In fact, it’s entirely possible that you have some form of health insurance exchange already in operation.

Mitt Romney: father of health reform? - GOP front-runner will need to run faster to escape evidence of Affordable Care Act paternity

Steve Anderson — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 01:13:40 +0000

We always love when politicians make witty jabs and then later get jabbed back. We love it, especially, when they’re jabbing health reform. Mitt Romney’s feeling a return jab right now. The GOP Presidential contender wisecracked in the spring that President Obama was giving Romney way too much credit for helping set the stage for national health [...]

questions about the Affordable Care Act? - operators are standing by for calls about health reform

Steve Anderson — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:12:37 +0000

Not entirely sure when state health insurance exchanges will take effect? Curious about Grandma's new free preventive services? Call someone who cares.

ruling against individual mandate could be start of citizens’ fight to keep reform gains - health reform may be 'intruding' on Americans' lives, but its provisions are intruding in ways that improve life

Steve Anderson — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 19:34:29 +0000

How ‘ya gonna keep ‘em down on the farm (after they’ve seen Paree?) We love that old post-World War I tune, but we feel like it’s due for an update – and we think it could go something like this: How ‘ya gonna keep ‘em satisfied with the health insurance status quo after they’ve seen [...]

fed decision to cover contraceptives was economically sound, and right thing to do

Jan Greene — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:13:16 +0000

On Monday, the federal government announced that, starting in 2012, insurers will be required to cover a broad range of preventive services – including contraception – at no cost to patients. It’s not every day that the feds tell insurers what to do, so this is kind of a big deal. Making it easier to [...]

the (tea) party’s over - America needs to move forward on health care reform

Chuck Smith-Dewey — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 18:25:39 +0000

America has always been defined by progress. Yet the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has elements in many states trying to turn back time. Louisiana, with it’s barrel-bottom ranking of the 49th healthiest state to live in, adds to a growing list of states bucking reform as its governor refuses to set up a federally-mandated health insurance exchange, those [...]

should health reform be a carrot or a stick? - states seek a more heavy-handed way to force coverage

Steve Anderson — Thu, 19 May 2011 20:01:19 +0000

Instead of mandating coverage on the front end, the states favor penalizing the uninsured on the back end – punishing those who presumably would be taking a "free ride" on the system.

happy birthday ‘obamacare’ - the self-employed, freelancers, independent contractors and mom-and-pops have every reason to celebrate

Chuck Smith-Dewey — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 23:26:07 +0000

If you are on this site, you likely do not have employer-provided health insurance and if so, today is a big day for you: today is the one year anniversary of the passage of the Affordable Care Act, often referred to derisively as “Obamacare.” As Forbes columnist Rich Unger recently pointed out, those foes of [...]

when more is simply more - america's bloated per capita health expenditures are simply the cost of "free" enterprise

Chuck Smith-Dewey — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 19:07:39 +0000

We Americans pay more dollars, and live shorter lives, than our counterparts in most other modern countries. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, in 2008 America spent $7,538 per capita on health care, while the other 33 nations surveyed spent an average of $3,000. The reason is clear: it’s how we pay [...]

gop memo: don’t improve aca too much - republican strategy firm cautions gop house members: fixing health reform law may make it more popular

Steve Anderson — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 22:13:53 +0000

After months of assuring Americans that they don’t hate everything about the recently passed Affordable Care Act – and that there’s room to improve the law – Republican legislators are now being cautioned to change their tune and their strategy. By improving the law too much, the memo says, legislators could make the law more popular.

north carolina seeks to secede from union? - tarheel house wants free pass on individual mandate

Chuck Smith-Dewey — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 16:57:40 +0000

One hundred and fifty years ago, North Carolina defied a U.S. President from Illinois when it became the final state to secede from the Union, resulting in more deaths for its citizens than any other Confederate state. Fast forward to today. The Tarheel State is defying another inspirational President from Illinois who is striving to [...]

health reform isn’t down for the count - reports of health reform's demise greatly exaggerated

Steve Anderson — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 18:56:40 +0000

Kay, over at Balloon Juice, brings up an excellent point today about coverage of yesterday’s ruling by a federal judge that the health reform law is unconstitutional. Her point, simply, is that the ruling from this particular federal judge – Roger Vinson – isn’t the nail in the casket for the health reform law. The [...]

repeal effort flies in the face of evidence - vote is more than symbolic: it's a waste of congress's time

Steve Anderson — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 20:59:06 +0000

There’s no question in our minds that House Republicans will be successful today in voting to repeal health reform legislation. So what happens after the inevitable yelling and the inevitable House vote for repeal? Nothing. The Senate will not vote for repeal and President Obama will certainly veto anything that even smells like repeal. That, [...]

what repeal of health reform means to you - new tool shows consumers in each state what they've gained from health reform law - before it's gone

Steve Anderson — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 17:39:58 +0000

As the old saying – and the song by Cinderella – goes, you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. We think health reform is like that, and – while we’re not at all certain that the upcoming House Republican effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act will be anything more than political theatre – we [...]

2011 and the future of health reform - year ahead is brighter for the uninsured - and the insured

Steve Anderson — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 20:02:44 +0000

It's hard to feel good about the way Congress finally passed those provisions into law. We're as disheartened about the way Congress functions as we are about the nation's health care system, and we feel that it's definitely due for major reform. But the fact is that the nation has waited far too long for the free market to solve the system's ills – and regardless of the process, the resulting legislation at least moved us forward.

health reform’s individual mandate - a missed message about personal responsibility?

Steve Anderson — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:29:13 +0000

We appreciated this assessment of health reform’s controversial individual mandate provision by William Pewen over at the Health Affairs Blog. He makes some predictions about the future of health reform if the mandate is ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, but we’re more interested in his take on the problem with Americans and their health insurance. [...]

bush: the gift that keeps on giving - w's appointee delivers lump of coal to working families, strikes down health reform's individual mandate

Chuck Smith-Dewey — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 20:56:41 +0000

Health reform’s individual mandate provision – the requirement that all taxpayers purchase health insurance beginning in 2014 – has been struck down by a federal judge appointed by none other than President George W. Bush. What is it with America’s continuing suffering inflicted by the former President? The deficit is about to go into hyperdrive [...]

are you really ready to enroll in Medicare? - interactive tool helps gauge whether consumers are ready to make medicare enrollment decisions

Steve Anderson — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:16:06 +0000

Most folks are confused by all of the health insurance options. But as confusing as that is it doesn't – in our opinion – hold a candle to the dizzying, mind-boggling maze that is the Medicare system.

meet my mother, the death panel

Steve Anderson — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 16:58:28 +0000

Back in the spring and summer of last year, the debate about health reform exploded over an issue that was not, in my estimation, worthy of a firecracker-sized pop. The issue was advanced care planning consultations, and looking back now, it seems to me the most odd point of contention that could have been raised [...]

ceo gives health insurance industry’s fight in recent health reform battle a big, fat F

Steve Anderson — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 19:04:57 +0000

in recent health reform battle a big, fat F" title="ceo gives health insurance industry’s fight
in recent health reform battle a big, fat F" style="float:right;" />We know it’s stating the obvious to say that the health insurance industry was not pleased by the outcome of the battle over health reform that concluded in March. But this article on Bloomberg shows just how bad the battle went, according to industry execs, whose ideas now include jettisoning Karen Ignani from her position as [...]

‘no’ may not mean ‘no’ for health insurers under new health reform provisions

Steve Anderson — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:53:48 +0000

under new health reform provisions" title="‘no’ may not mean ‘no’ for health insurers
under new health reform provisions" style="float:right;" />When you start talking about the recently passed health reform legislation, there’s a good chance you’re headed for an argument. But it’s hard to see how anyone – other than health insurance companies – could argue against the consumer protection provisions announced by the Obama Administration yesterday. Anyone who’s fought it out with an insurance [...]

everything you always wanted to know about health reform … but didn’t know you could ask

Steve Anderson — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:03:26 +0000

Say what you will about the recently passed health reform legislation – good or bad – but you can’t say that its supporters are withholding information about what’s ahead. With mid-term elections around the corner, the Obama Administration is readying a Lollapalooza of a dog-and-pony show to highlight its accomplishments to date – and the [...]

new high-risk insurance pool program for states isn’t “risky business”

Steve Anderson — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:00:26 +0000

for states isn’t “risky business”" title="new high-risk insurance pool program
for states isn’t “risky business”" style="float:right;" />Tomorrow, many states will start taking applications for insurance coverage through the temporary high-risk insurance pools established through this year’s historic health reform legislation. As the Associated Press points out, it’s a “huge investment” by the federal government. It’s no secret that many critics believe the pools are a huge mistake. Though the funding for [...]

health reform is being hated less.

Steve Anderson — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:12:01 +0000

If you listen to John Boehner, health reform is not only completely abhorrent to the critics who pummeled it for months on end, but it’s now also uniformly despised by everyone, everywhere. In reality, health reform is probably viewed negatively (ranging from “completely loathed” to “not really certain what it will do”) by about half [...]

the U.S. is number seven, but it appears we’re trying harder

Steve Anderson — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:13:05 +0000

but it appears we’re trying harder" title="the U.S. is number seven,
but it appears we’re trying harder" style="float:right;" />Like Avis, the United States is apparently not Number One – not in health care performance at least – when compared against a bunch of other countries. And they’re countries that repeatedly got a really bad rap during the health care debate as being examples of poor quality, inefficiency, and – worst of all – [...]

obama: go back on health reform? let’s not and say we didn’t.

Steve Anderson — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:06:13 +0000

let’s not and say we didn’t." title="obama: go back on health reform?
let’s not and say we didn’t." style="float:right;" />President Obama likes his health reform legislation. Go figure. And today, he also gave consumers more reasons to like the legislation – namely a bunch of consumer protections the administration is calling the “patient bill of rights.” How about reversing course? The POTUS said – in a nutshell – “Let’s not and say we didn’t.” [...]

find out what health reform has done for you lately.

Steve Anderson — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:05:57 +0000

Seriously. Ask, “What have you done for me lately?” Do it today – submit your questions about health reform progress to About.com. Maybe if you ask nicely, Katherine Sebelius will actually answer your question during a live event streamed tomorrow at 3 p.m. (Eastern) at Whitehouse.gov/live. Questions that probably WON’T get answers: “Why are you [...]

republicans prepare to raise their voice against health reform this fall; Democrats ready to lend them a bullhorn

Steve Anderson — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:37:37 +0000

You know that old saying about how even bad PR is good PR? Well, The Nation has a pretty decent argument for its validity. Seems like the more Republicans turn up their messages about the recently passed legislation, the more they’re turning off listeners to their arguments. November will be interesting. That’s for sure.

knowledge is not only power, but protection against health insurance schemes and scams

Steve Anderson — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 22:31:40 +0000

The health reform legislation passed in March by Congress is giving Americans plenty to look forward to over the next decade, but according to recent reports from law enforcement and anti-fraud groups, the legislation will also give Americans plenty to look out for. Within weeks of the legislation’s passage, consumers began reporting a wave of [...]

rep. eric cantor: “blame the victim”

Chuck Smith-Dewey — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 13:19:37 +0000

In the circus surrounding the Tea Party reaction to the health insurance reform bill, Republican Congressman Eric Cantor is stepping in as a ringmaster. In the midst of death threats against nearly a dozen Democrats who voted for the bill, Cantor is blaming the victims, saying they are using these threats as political fodder. Cantor, [...]

why health reform supporters’ mood rings are turning blue

Steve Anderson — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:14:36 +0000

mood rings are turning blue" title="why health reform supporters’
mood rings are turning blue" style="float:right;" />An interesting poll surfaced yesterday, revealing that – in the days since health reform legislation was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and signed into law by President Obama – more Americans have taken a favorable view of the legislation than they did before the vote. Nearly 50 percent of those polled now say [...]

Biggest pro-life vote in history

Chuck Smith-Dewey — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 04:53:24 +0000

Our statement has nothing to do with the last-minute deal cut between the White House and Rep. Bart Stupak (D- Mich.). Here’s why the historic vote authorizing health insurance reform is the biggest pro-life vote in history: Fifty-five thousand Americans die every year because of lack of health insurance coverage. Those are deaths that no [...]

toe-may-toe … toe-mah-toe …

Steve Anderson — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 05:50:05 +0000

Throughout the health care debate, it’s been fascinating to watch opposition responses to each bit of reform-related news. The complete inability of opponents of Democratic reform proposals to see anything positive in the legislation has been simply stunning. How determined were opponents of reform? Determined enough to threaten that legislation promising free assistance to those [...]

Health insurance crises prove the sky IS falling

Steve Anderson — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:01:08 +0000

We thought this editorial cartoon in the Kansas City Star was pretty good – and not just because we agree with them on that whole Global Warming thing. We also got a chuckle because it hit so close to home in terms of the ongoing health reform debate. We’d rewrite the caption to read, “If [...]

Who would Jesus insure?

Chuck Smith-Dewey — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 18:33:45 +0000

The headline in the StarTribune says “Health care for poor may get axe.” Minnesota’s Governor Tim Pawlenty, a 2012 Presidential hopeful, is set to veto a bill that would pay health care costs for 85,000 of the state’s poorest and sickest residents. The bill he is threatening to kill is a stripped-down version of a [...]

allow me to translate

Steve Anderson — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:44:35 +0000

There’s a lot of debate today over what President Obama was saying to his supporters last night when he described what he thinks needs to happen with the health reform legislation from here on in. The point he made that seems to be drawing the most speculation is this passage: “That’s why I think it’s [...]

It’s now or never, democrats.

Steve Anderson — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:06:40 +0000

We don’t like the phrase, “It’s now or never,” especially when it comes to the health reform battle. If legislation doesn’t succeed now, it doesn’t mean the nation’s health care system can never be improved. Even with a complete failure by the Democrats, the system could conceivably gradually evolve into something better over time with [...]

Health reform: Dead? or not dead?

Steve Anderson — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:07:07 +0000

The current status of the health reform legislation in the nation’s capital reminds of us the popular quizzes that challenge players to speculate as to whether celebrities are dead yet. If you asked opponents of health reform, they’d surely tell you that – like the failed health reform efforts of 1994 – the current Democratic proposals [...]

let’s NOT start over on health reform

Steve Anderson — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:00:53 +0000

In the days following last week’s special election in Massachusetts, it wasn’t surprising at all to hear opponents of health reform announcing that America had – loudly and clearly – told Congress to start over on health reform. But here’s the thing: If the Democrats had barely eked out a win, opponents would have said [...]

the ‘american dream’: coming soon to america?

Chuck Smith-Dewey — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:12:48 +0000

“It’s all about the health benefits.” I personally have heard it dozens of times from friends and family, who make it painfully clear that they’re not banging on the door of Corporate America because they’re dying to work in a cubicle. They tell me they’re reluctantly looking for gigs in big business because that’s where [...]

is the senate bill really unfit for consumption?

Steve Anderson — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:02:18 +0000

Jonathan Cohn of the New Republic said today what a lot of liberals have been saying about the Senate bill. Basically, it’s been stretched and pulled like a gob of saltwater taffy as it morphed into something barely acceptable to barely enough Democrats, but also largely disappointing to a large contingent of other liberals (and [...]

Joe Lieberman continues to play Grinch Who Stole Health Reform

Steve Anderson — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:42:02 +0000

Grinch Who Stole Health Reform" title="Joe Lieberman continues to play
Grinch Who Stole Health Reform" style="float:right;" />Anyone who thought passage of a health reform bill in 2009 would be easy, given the Democratic majority in Congress, was deluded. To think that all of Congressional Democrats – and the Independents they court – would vote in lock step was just plain fantasy. But even Democrats who knew reform legislation would be all [...]

when it comes to reform legislation, size really does matter.

Steve Anderson — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:25:41 +0000

size really does matter." title="when it comes to reform legislation,
size really does matter." style="float:right;" />One of the things that has bugged us for months and months is health care opponents’ preoccupation with the number of pages in the health care bills that have been introduced in the House and Senate. The most recent bill to emerge is the Senate bill unveiled by Harry Reid yesterday and SURPRISE … it’s [...]

how would health reform help or hurt? - five from Montana and how reform would affect them

Steve Anderson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:15:23 +0000

There are plenty of stories out there about the nightmares already faced in the nation’s existing health care system. But folks really want to know how coverage will look after health reform legislation is passed. (We’re assuming it will be.) That why we liked this story, which examines what the current legislative proposals would mean [...]

somebody get harry reid some steroids. stat.

Steve Anderson — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:30:17 +0000

When the House passed its version of health reform legislation last week, the development may have sent chills down the spines of those who oppose the Democrats’ proposed solutions. But a quick read-through of Suzy Khimm’s piece in The Treatment yesterday should be equally chilling to folks who think the battle over health reform is [...]

do not pass go. do not collect $200. (or just get health insurance like everyone else.)

Steve Anderson — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:43:32 +0000

(or just get health insurance like everyone else.)" title="do not pass go. do not collect $200.
(or just get health insurance like everyone else.)" style="float:right;" />You’d think opponents of health care would be content with getting Americans worked up about issues like abortion and immigration in order to bog down passage of a health reform bill, but today, bloggers and Tweeters are whispering in a really loud, gasping voice, “Jail time for folks who don’t buy health insurance?” We’re not [...]

even if states can opt out, will they?

Steve Anderson — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:48:50 +0000

can opt out, will they?" title="even if states can opt out, will they?" style="float:right;" />We’re happy to hear folks asking this question: If Democrats succeed in passing health reform legislation with an opt-out public option as included in Harry Reid’s Senate bill, would any states actually opt out? Conservatives seem to like the idea that states could take a pass on a public option provision they dread. But really, [...]

if dems haven’t led or followed, it’s time to get out of the way, columnist says

Steve Anderson — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:05:23 +0000

to get out of the way, columnist says" title="if dems haven’t led or followed, it’s time
to get out of the way, columnist says" style="float:right;" />Will Democrats unite to allow an up-or-down vote on health reform legislation? Robert Creamer explained on the Huffington Post this morning why he thinks it’s in Democratic legislators’ best interests to pull together. Creamer’s reasons include, briefly: That Americans have already swung overwhelmingly in support of the public option. A vote to defeat the filibuster [...]

‘option’ is not a failure – not yet, anyway.

Steve Anderson — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:41:40 +0000

For a political proposal that appeared ready to be staked in the heart by its opponents just weeks ago, the public option looked surprisingly perky this week. In fact, the only thing that now sounds optional about the proposed reform initiative is the abundance of public option options being floated. The perkiness is due, of [...]

when reverend reid marries HELP and Finance, will olympia snowe get to give away the ‘bride?’

Steve Anderson — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:11:58 +0000

There were squeals of joy and howls of rage when Olympia Snowe crossed the aisle (or as Republicans would say “went over to the Dark Side”) yesterday to vote for the Senate Finance Committee’s version of a health reform bill. But now that it’s done, both sides might be rethinking their outbursts. The Right could [...]

north dakota dems cry “bad (blue) dog!” – hit senator on nose with newspaper

Chuck Smith-Dewey — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:34:18 +0000

hit senator on nose with newspaper" title="north dakota dems cry “bad (blue) dog!” –
hit senator on nose with newspaper" style="float:right;" />Okay, we know that it’s the conservative members of the House that are called “Blue Dogs” (not members of the Senate), but what a perfect visual for the actions of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL party’s put-down of its own senator, Kent Conrad (D-ND). The party’s members recently reaffirmed a commitment to an even much more progressive [...]

finally, some republican musclesupporting obama’s health care reform

Chuck Smith-Dewey — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:19:53 +0000

supporting obama’s health care reform" title="finally, some republican muscle
supporting obama’s health care reform" style="float:right;" />Governor Arnold Schwarznegger (R-CA) has made a formal statement supporting health care reform, urging congressional Republicans to cooperate with the Democrats in forming and passing significant legislation this year. His pleas to his party-mates may stir reminders of his role as a Kindergarten Cop as many in both parties are entranced by the siren call [...]

a debate that really is a life-and-death battle

Steve Anderson — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 02:40:34 +0000

is a life-and-death battle" title="a debate that really is a life-and-death battle" style="float:right;" />U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson hit the hornets’s nest squarely this week and then hit it again for good measure. We have a hunch he’s not about to put down his stick. Now, Rep. Grayson faces the prospect of a bunch of ticked-off Republicans who suddenly are OK with the idea of a huge debate in [...]

without health reform, american dream will continue to be nightmare for entrepreneurs

Steve Anderson — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:41:55 +0000

There’s something about this huge debate on health care that’s been sorely lacking and … and that something is a discussion of what health reform could mean to entrepreneurs. Remember the American Dream? Where you come up with a great product or service and then open your own business? You work harder, not smarter? The [...]

blue dogs bark, bite not so bad on public option

Chuck Smith-Dewey — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 01:45:54 +0000

This week, the Congressional Progressive Caucus did a head count of its members to see whether House liberals still strongly opposed any health reform bill that would not include a public option. Word from the Hill Thursday indicated that opposition is still plenty strong. Not so strong? Blue Dog opposition to a public option, apparently. [...]

On health reform, obama is more ‘nixon’ than ‘kennedy’

Chuck Smith-Dewey — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:48:41 +0000

more ‘nixon’ than ‘kennedy’" title="On health reform, obama is
more ‘nixon’ than ‘kennedy’" style="float:right;" />Students of history may get a chuckle when they hear Republicans define Obama’s health care plan as “socialism.” If we look to the past, we see Obama’s plan is pretty much in line with Republican President Richard M. Nixon’s failed efforts in 1974. Like Nixon, Obama seeks to tweak America’s existing private health care system, [...]

poll: three out of four doctors want a public option in any health care reform

Chuck Smith-Dewey — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:14:59 +0000

want a public option in any health care reform" title="poll: three out of four doctors
want a public option in any health care reform" style="float:right;" />According to a new poll published in yesterday’s New England Journal of Medicine and reported on National Public Radio, 63 percent of the nation’s doctors want health care reform to include a public option, while another 10 percent would go even further, endorsing a single-payer plan. Dropping Medicare age requirements Furthermore, nearly 60 percent of [...]

centrist president hits it right down the middle

Chuck Smith-Dewey — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:28:40 +0000

When we went to the polls last fall, middle America voted for an end to partisan bickering and for our elected representatives to confront issues together in a practical, common sense way. For better or worse, that’s what we got at the Oval Office: “no drama Obama”. In his address to Congress last week on [...]

before you oppose a ‘government plan,’ make sure you don’t already have one.

Steve Anderson — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:33:33 +0000

make sure you don’t already have one." title="before you oppose a ‘government plan,’
make sure you don’t already have one." style="float:right;" />One of the most interesting reactions to the ongoing health reform debate has to be the public’s revulsion at the prospect of increased government control of the health care system. I understand concerns about additional financial burdens that come with new government programs … and concerns about adding to the nation’s deficit. I get that. [...]

we have nothing to fear from health reform – except fear of change itself

Steve Anderson — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:18:18 +0000

This morning, I opened my email to find a news item that read “Polls show support slips for Obama’s health plan” – citing a New York Time/CBS News poll in which 69% of respondents said they “were concerned that the quality of their health care would decline if the government put universal health insurance in [...]

president’s patience is a virtue – not a ‘Waterloo’

Steve Anderson — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:20:59 +0000

We’re tempted to say that President Obama got Punk’d yesterday by the Senate, as Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that the Senate will not be able to get a health reform bill wrapped up before a month-long Congressional recess that starts in August. We would love to have had Congress hammer out the bill. We [...]

media plays chicken little as health reform legislation steadily advances

Steve Anderson — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:37:51 +0000

It’s hard enough trying to convince Americans that it’s time for drastic health reform measures when that reform is being fought tooth and nail by the health insurance industry, which today launched a seven-figure advertising campaign to put pressure on moderate Congressional Democrats. The pressure, of course, is to urge them to help kill momentum [...]

obama ad buy troubling but necessary in time of corporate dominance

Chuck Smith-Dewey — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:38:33 +0000

in time of corporate dominance" title="obama ad buy troubling but necessary
in time of corporate dominance" style="float:right;" />Organizing for America, the campaign arm of the Obama machine, is targeting constituents of moderate Senators in both parties with a cable TV ad buy. We have no quarrel with the content of the ad, shown below. The stories of the people featured ring true, and this campaign serves a noble purpose in letting their [...]

congressman declares public option “too good”

Chuck Smith-Dewey — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:00:24 +0000

public option “too good”" title="congressman declares
public option “too good”" style="float:right;" />Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.), newly appointed as ranking minority member of the House Education and Labor Committee, is giving Rep. Michelle Bachmann a run-for-her-money as the looniest representative from the land of 10,000 lakes. Interviewed on Minnesota Public Radio, Kline says as far as he’s concerned, a health reform bill with a public option is [...]

will the democrats tear up their golden ticket?

Steve Anderson — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:53:47 +0000

up their golden ticket?" title="will the democrats tear
up their golden ticket?" style="float:right;" />Since the health insurance industry stonewalled the Clinton Administration’s attempts to drastically overhaul our trainwreck of a health care system, Americans have been waiting. We’ve been waiting for something nearly miraculous: a convergence of conditions that would include a frightening global economic climate; a national realization that our system is an ineffective, unfair mess; and [...]

is meaningful health reform written in the stars?

Steve Anderson — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:31:30 +0000

President Obama has a lot on his plate. If you hadn’t already sensed the magnitude of the challenges he’s facing, the POTUS (President of the United States) spelled them out last night in his 100th-day press conference. Between bailing out the auto industry, fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, keeping an eye on North Korea [...]