March 2010 - Health Beat - The Network of Care

Lots of Bark, Little Bite in State Efforts to Block Health Reform

Last week, Virginia became the first state in the nation to pass a law that aims to block the individual mandate for health coverage, a key element of President Obama’s health reform plan. Virginia has a history of defying federal... Read More...

Published Tue, Mar 16 2010 1:21 PM by Health Beat

The Top Ten Immediate Benefits Americans Will Receive When Health Care Reform Passes

Today, the Democratic Caucus of the House listed the provisions of the health reform bill that will take effect “as soon as health care passes,” The legislation would: Prohibit pre-existing condition exclusions for children in all new plans; Provide immediate...

Published Tue, Mar 16 2010 6:09 PM by Health Beat

"Medicalizing" Life

How much medical care do we want in our lives? H. Gilbert Welch poses this question in his excellent op-ed piece for the LA Times entitled, “The Medicalization of Life” and tells us that the answer will be vitally important... Read More...

Published Wed, Mar 17 2010 2:26 PM by Health Beat

Highlights from the Reconciliation Bill, and Maggie’s Comments on the Changes

Overall, the changes in the reconciliation bill will make the Senate bill more progressive—and fairer. My prediction: the bill will pass. Those who oppose universal coverage are becoming angrier, louder, more abusive, and more frantic. This is because...

Published Thu, Mar 18 2010 6:39 PM by Health Beat

Truth Squad: Fox on Health Care Reform and Small Businesses

Fox strikes again. Appearing as a guest host on Fox & Friends yesterday Dana Perino asserted that the health care reform bill's Medicare investment tax on those making over $200,000 a year is "so disturbing ... because the people who... Read...

Published Fri, Mar 19 2010 4:06 PM by Health Beat

Dan Rather on President Obama, LBJ and HCR:

Last night, I saw Dan Rather on the Rachel Maddow show. Some people have suggested that today, the country is polarized the way it was in the 1960s. But Rather reminds us that when Congress passed Medicare in 1965, President... Read More...

Published Sat, Mar 20 2010 11:21 AM by Health Beat

Bob Wachter: The Process Was “Nauseating,” But the Policy That Emerged “Ain’t Bad”

If Rachel Maddow’s interview with Dan Rather (below), depressed you, I suggest Bob Wachter’s post on The Health Care Blog as an antidote. It’s titled: “Could It Be That the System (Gasp!) Works?” (http://www.thehealthcareblog.com/the_health_care_blog...

Published Sat, Mar 20 2010 6:16 PM by Health Beat

“I Am Not Bound to Win, But I Am Bound to Be True”

So many said it would never happen. But now, on Sunday, March 21, 2010, it appears that reformers have the votes. Politico.com has announced that the last hold-outs--legislators who oppose abortion-- have reached an agreement with the White House. (Under...

Published Sun, Mar 21 2010 2:09 PM by Health Beat

Medical Professionals Must Lead: This is Your Revolution--Atul Gawnade

Writing on the New Yorker’s “News Desk” today, Boston surgeon Atul Gawande laid out the challenge that health care reform poses for hospital administrators, physicians, nurses and every other professional in our health care system. (By professionals,...

Published Mon, Mar 22 2010 6:31 PM by Health Beat

Orrin Hatch: “Do You Realize They’re Going to Subsidize Families Making More than $80,000 A Year?”—What Reform Will Mean For You and Your Family

Appearing on CNN yesterday morning, Senator Orrin Hatch (R, Utah) groused about what he called the “Europeanization” of health care. Translated, that means that we have decided to take a more collective approach to survival. If you cannot afford health...

Published Wed, Mar 24 2010 7:29 AM by Health Beat

Listen to Maggie on Why Conservatives Are So Upset About Reform

Those who oppose reform understand just how powerful this legislation is. They understand—better than many liberals—just what it means for a medical-industrial complex that has grown fat while profiting from runaway health- care inflation. Going forward...

Published Wed, Mar 24 2010 3:01 PM by Health Beat

Over-treating Birth? C-section Rates Hit an All-time High of 32%

The figures are alarming: The cesarean rate in this country has increased 50% since 1996; hitting an all-time high of 32% of all deliveries. What could possibly be fueling this dramatic rise in surgery? The latest figures come from a... Read More...

Published Wed, Mar 24 2010 2:50 PM by Health Beat

Dr. Don Berwick to Become Medicare Director? If It’s True, This Is Wonderful News

Within the past hour both New America Foundation’s Joanne Kenen and Wall Street Journal blog “Washington Wire” have reported the rumor—not yet confirmed—that President Obama has chosen Dr. Donald Berwick, the president and founder of the Institute for...

Published Fri, Mar 26 2010 11:49 AM by Health Beat

Video Segments of Dr. Donald Berwick from the Documentary Money Driven Medicine

The following video segments are from the documentary Money Driven Medicine and are presented courtesy of the film's distributor California Newsreel www.newsreel.org (The player uses Adobe Flash Player available here) Is American Health Care the Best...

Published Fri, Mar 26 2010 1:50 PM by Health Beat

Congress Agrees to Lash Itself to the Mast; Making It Possible For Medicare To Move Forward With Reform—Update

A surprising number of Congressmen would acknowledge, privately, that in the past, legislators have meddled with Medicare reform, blocking Medicare’s best efforts to squeeze waste out of the system. When it comes to listening to appeals from powerful...

Published Fri, Mar 26 2010 5:58 PM by Health Beat

March 2010 - Health Beat

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