Oct 27 Watch Opt-out Clause on Public Option Puts Role of States Back in Spotlight Among the health reform proposals under debate on Capitol Hill is a plan to allow states to opt out of a public option -- which may help legislation pass through Congress, but how would it work to drive down costs?… Continue watching
Oct 27 Watch Renewed Public Option Push in Senate Tests Democratic Unity The push by the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to include a public option into a health care reform bill drew sharply different reactions on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, with liberals voicing support, moderates airing concerns, and Republicans promising a… Continue watching
Oct 21 House Panel Votes to Repeal Insurance Industry Antitrust Exemption The House Judiciary Committee voted Wednesday to revoke the health insurance industry's limited antitrust exemption, which exempts the industry from federal oversight of business practices such as price fixing. Continue reading
Oct 16 Watch Shields and Gerson Survey Health Care Outlook, Economy Columnists Mark Shields and Michael Gerson sort through the top news of the past week, including a key vote on health care in the Senate Finance Committee, bank earning reports and conflicting data about the health of the economy. Continue watching
Oct 14 Watch Senate Shifts Focus to Health Care Compromise Top Senate Democrats and White House officials have turned their health reform efforts toward crafting a compromise package that can unite Democrats and avoid a GOP filibuster. Policy analysts examine the different ways a public option could take shape in… Continue watching
Oct 13 Finance Committee Passes Reform Bill With Support From Snowe The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday became the last of five congressional panels to act on a health reform bill, passing its legislation in a 14-9 vote that saw Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe breaking from Republicans -- at least for… Continue reading
Oct 12 Unusual Battle Lines Are Drawn on Role of Individual Mandate in Reform Bill The Senate Finance Committee is expected to approve its health reform bill Tuesday, but the legislation may include an amendment that weakens penalties designed to support an individual mandate requiring most Americans to carry insurance. Continue reading
Oct 07 CBO Says Health Bill Would Cost $829 Billion By Lea Winerman The Senate Finance Committee's health care reform plan would cost $829 billion over 10 years, but would meet President Barack Obama's goal of reducing the federal budget deficit by 2019, according to a cost estimate released Wednesday. Continue reading
Oct 05 Under Senate Finance Committee Plan, High-Risk Insurance Pools Get Funding Boost Until recently, self-employed writer Candace Talmadge, of Lancaster, Texas, was pleased with the health insurance she purchased through a small business association. Continue reading
Oct 05 Obama Pitches Health Reform to Doctors By Lea Winerman President Obama made his latest pitch for health care reform Monday in a White House Rose Garden speech to 150 white-coat-wearing doctors from around the country. Continue reading