Beta Footprint » senate

Advocacy Groups Increase Efforts To Oppose Abortion Coverage Restrictions In Senate Health Reform Bill

Master — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Abortion-rights advocacy groups are ramping up advertising campaigns and lobbying efforts to prevent Rep.

Amid Health Bill Delays And Snags, Lawmakers Target Issues

admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000

The wait for the Congressional Budget Office score on the Senate health care reform bill has left Senators with time to carefully consider all the angles on reform, The New York Times reports. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid “has already received some substantial analysis of his measure, and if the numbers had been what he wanted, he would have released a bill by now.

KHN Column: Will There Be A Market For Gov’t Long-Term Care Insurance?

Master — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

In his latest Kaiser Health News column, Howard Gleckman writes about long-term care: “The CLASS Act – the far-reaching proposal to create a national long-term care insurance program – is in the House health reform bill, and is still in the mix as Senate leaders struggle to design their own version of reform.

Democrats Insist Obama Trip To Asia Won’t Slow Health Care Bill

Master — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Roll Call reports that President Obama’s eight-day trip to Asia “will have little effect on Democrats’ ability to move health care legislation through the Senate, according to Senate and White House aides.” When news first broke that he would be gone for an extended amount of time, many Democrats met the news with “consternation,” but it now appears that Obama won’t be missing the “crunch time.

Health Reform: Senate Facing Controversies On Coverage Numbers, Abortion Language

Master — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:00:00 +0000

The Wall Street Journal: “When the Senate unveils its health-care bill, all eyes will be on the price tag. But an equally significant number may be how many people get health insurance under the legislation.” The two versions of committee-passed legislation in the Senate “would extend insurance to fewer people than the final bill passed through the House.

Congressional Democrats Seek To Maintain Health Overhaul Momentum

admin — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:00:00 +0000

The Senate could begin debate next week on a health care reform bill while House Democratic leadership is telling members to prepare to work deep into December.

Senate Passes Bill Amending FMLA Requirements For Flight Crews

admin — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:00:00 +0000

The Senate on Tuesday passed by voice vote a bill (S 1422) that would change the Family and Medical Leave Act to adjust the number of hours flight crews are required to work to qualify for family and medical leave benefits, CQ Today reports. The legislation would state that flight attendants need to log 504 hours in a 12-month period to be eligible for leave.

Senate Dems Plan For Floor Fight On Abortion Coverage In Health Reform Bill

admin — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Senate Democrats are preparing for a fight over abortion coverage when floor debate begins on the chamber’s version of health care reform legislation, CQ Today reports. According to CQ Today, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.

Clinton Rallies Senators To Pass Health Reform, Timeline Becomes Key

Master — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

The New York Times: “Senate majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, said Tuesday that he expected to bring major health care legislation to the floor next week and to complete work on the bill before Christmas.” Others said that timeline is unlikely as the Senate waits for a score on the bill by the Congressional Budget Office.

Some Dems Worry Health Bill Will Come Up Short On Savings

Master — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000

The New York Times: “As health care legislation moves toward a crucial airing in the Senate, the White House is facing a growing revolt from some Democrats and analysts who say the bills Congress is considering do not fulfill President Obama’s promise to slow the runaway rise in health care spending. …

Narrow House Vote Is Prologue To Senate Health Reform Battle

admin — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000

The 220-215 pencil-thin margin of victory for the House Democrats’ health reform bill foreshadows a potentially tougher fight in the Senate, The Wall Street Journal reports. “Senate Democrats are struggling to agree on how to pay for the overhaul and whether to create a new public insurance plan to compete with private insurers, as the House did.

Issues Related To Illegal Immigrants Could Threaten Health Bill

admin — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:00:00 +0000

The Hill reports that the “illegal immigration issue is emerging as the biggest threat to passing healthcare reform in the House.” Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus are upset with a last-minute threat to “bolster the House bill’s immigration restrictions to match those included in the Senate Finance bill.

Doctors Scrutinize Defensive Medicine, Surgeons Oppose Senate Reform Bill

Master — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Doctors and lawyers are disputing the true costs of defensive medicine, while surgeons oppose provisions being considered by the Senate for health reform. The Seattle Times reports that “defensive medicine” is under scrutiny as part of the congressional consideration of health care reform

Abortion Continues To Snag Health Reform Legislation, Divide Lawmakers

Master — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

The divisive issue of abortions, a lingering hurdle to health reform legislation, is plaguing both House and Senate Democratic leaders, the Los Angeles Times reports. “The delays in both houses reflect the fact that even though Democrats hold solid majorities, significant divisions exist below the surface. â€¦ The challenge is particularly great where abortion is concerned

Prayer Treatments Covered In Health Care Reform Bills

Master — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Prayer treatments may get a boost in health care legislation, raising debate about what constitutes healing and the separation of church and state.

House Democrats Hail, Question Health Reform Bill

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:00 +0000

News outlets detailed the House health care reform bill and reaction from members. The Congressional Budget Office estimated its net cost to be $894 billion over 10 years

HHS Secretary Sebelius Announces Senate Confirmation Of Dr. Regina Benjamin As U.S. Surgeon General

Master — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that the United States Senate unanimously confirmed Dr

Shocked By Re-Emergence Of Public Option, Business Groups Push Back

Master — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Business leaders who thought they had dodged a bullet when the Senate Finance Committee decided against offering a government-run public option as part of their health bill are pushing back after the plan’s re-emergence. The Wall Street Journal reports that several groups, including the Business Roundtable and the U.S

Insurer Stocks Rise After Reid’s ‘Opt-Out’ Announcement

Master — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0000

“A day after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid proposed an ‘opt-out’ public option plan, health-care insurers’ stocks climbed Tuesday,” Dow Jones Newswires/The Wall Street Journal reports. “Led by Centene Corp.’s (CNC) 6% gain, fueled by an upside earnings surprise, all major carriers were in the black.” But “there may have been more to Tuesday’s action in health-insurer stocks.

Onus On Government To Pass Bill To Give Certainty To Cataract Surgery Patients, Australia

admin — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0000

With the cataract surgery Medicare items disallowed in the Senate today, the onus is back on the Government to provide certainty and security to anxious patients who are booked for private cataract surgery from 1 November onwards.

AMA Calls For Commonsense To Prevail In Cataract Surgery Senate Standoff, Australia

Master — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:00:00 +0000

The AMA today called for the Government and the Opposition to come to an agreement in the Senate on the Medicare rebate payable for cataract surgery – and that agreement must be to keep the rebate at its current level.

Reid’s End Game? Senate Bill Will Have Public Option With ‘Opt Out’

admin — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced yesterday that he will include a public insurance plan in the final Senate health overhaul legislation.

Senator Reid’s Proposal Augurs Well For Passing Health Reform This Year

admin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Today, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid outlined the details of the proposed health reform bill that will be debated on the Senate floor.

Senate Negotiators Wrestle With Employer Mandate, Unemployed Have Mixed Feelings On Health Bills

admin — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:00:00 +0000

News reports reflect how current reform plans are likely to affect employers as well as people who are unemployed. The Wall Street Journal reports on the status of the employer mandate.

Senate Dems Still Debating Public Plan In Health Bills

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Senate Democratic leaders are tracking the support of a government-run public option in health care reform legislation.