health insurance news

Governing.com–A total of $230 million was given to ten states by the federal government’s Department of Health and Human Services. The money will be used to aid the development of health insurance exchanges in those states.

TPMDC – Five leading Democrats – including Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin – have publicly announced that they will vote for a public option if it’s offered up during the budget reconciliation process, where legislation can pass with a majority vote.

Think Progress – If Democrats move to pass health care reform after tomorrow’s summit, their newfound momentum can be at least partly attributed to WellPoint’s decision to drastically increase premiums in California’s individual health insurance market. The rate increases highlighted the broken health care system and pressured lawmakers to drastically reform the individual health insurance market. The administration’s strong response also enunciated the differences in lawmakers’ approach to reform and may have pushed the President to add stronger cost control provisions into his health care blue-print.

Politico.com – Is Judd Gregg a tease or a real potential partner for President Barack Obama in trying to salvage some health care reform in this Congress?

Politico – Immediately after President Barack Obama announced a bipartisan health reform summit, Democrats and Republica3made clear they have almost no expectation the half-day meeting can break a bitter yearlong standoff.

The Reno Gazette-Journal – Editor’s note: Today, while the Senate races against a self-imposed Christmas Eve deadline to reach a compromise on health care reform, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid released an op-ed piece to newspapers in the state. According to Reid, Nevada “has the 2nd highest rate of uninsured in the country. Not only is this morally wrong, but it drives up the cost of premiums for those of us who do have insurance.”

The Washington Post – The Senate narrowly rejected an amendment that would have restricted abortion coverage in the pending health-care bill, leaving in question whether Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) has the 60 votes needed to move the bill toward final passage.