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  • Obama Gets Tough on Health Care Fraud
    Mar 11, 2010 — New York Times
    Karen M. Ignagni, president of America’s Health Insurance Plans, immediately accepted the suggestion. Insurers said the administration was demonizing them. But House Democrats have balked at the deadline.
  • Obama's liberal base 'disengaged'
    Mar 11, 2010 — USA Today
    Bill Halter in a primary challenge to two-term incumbent Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln, who is backed by Obama.In three days earlier this month, the liberal group MoveOn.org raised $1 million for Halter, in average donations of $30. Unions and left-wing activists like me," he says.
  • Obama's Student Loan Overhaul Endangered
    Mar 11, 2010 — New York Times
    The White House and Democratic leaders are preparing to use the same budget reconciliation process to approve final revisions to the health care legislation. Conrad said the education bill could be adopted soon after that. But they were unable to stop House Democrats from approving a bill.
  • Pelosi: Dems close on health care agreement
    Mar 11, 2010 — USA Today
    The current hope of the White House and Democratic leaders is for the House to approve the Senate-passed bill from late last year, despite serious objections to numerous provisions. Pelosi and other House Democrats want to include Obama's proposed overhaul of the nation's student loan programs in the second, fix-it health care bill. Additionally, some House Democrats are hoping to avoid a straightforward vote on the Senate-passed health care bill.
  • $1.9 million health clinic planned for New Haven
    Mar 10, 2010 — The News-Sentinel
    A new health clinic is coming to New Haven -- and bringing up to 11 new full-time jobs with it. Lutheran Health Network is planning a $1.9 million project that would convert a vacant former Scott's grocery store at 1302 Minnich Road into a facility that would provide primary medical care as well as rotating specialty clinics, according to Lutheran spokeswoman Lizette Downey. The clinic is expected to open in August. "We are excited to be working with New Haven," Downey...
  • '09 revenue rebounds at CHS
    Mar 10, 2010 — The Charlotte Observer
    ...an "operating margin," or a profit, he said -- so it can pay for medical equipment, renovations and new construction to stay modern. Kannapolis ER facility funded Board members Tuesday approved spending $17 million to build another freestanding emergency department, in Kannapolis. The 25,000-square-foot facility will be near Interstate 85 and Lane Street. Carolinas HealthCare also plans to open three more freestanding ERs in Waxhaw, Harrisburg and in the NorthCross area...
  • 'Health Freedom Act' passes Idaho Senate
    Mar 10, 2010 — The Spokesman-Review
    Elliot Werk, D-Boise, questioned spending as much as $100,000 on a court fight over federal health care reform legislation, saying that could pay salaries for three teachers. Plus, he said, "As Americans, what is our freedom worth? John Andreason, R-Boise, were the only Republicans to vote against the bill. Sen.
  • 3 daughters battle health system, legal maze as father fights Alzheimer's
    Mar 10, 2010 — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
    Their father remained in the independent living section but visited his wife daily. Richard Petersen's dementia progressed. Mary's inpatient behavioral health unit in Milwaukee, but no bed was available. None has been available since January, according to a spokesman. The daughters then suggested their father be transferred from Luther Manor to Community Memorial Hospital in Menomonee Falls.
  • Abortion Is Bill's Remaining Hurdle
    Mar 10, 2010 — Politico
    Gibbs,” Hoyer told reporters at his weekly press briefing, referring to the March 18 deadline Gibbs offered reporters last week. “We are trying to do this as soon as possible. Bart Stupak, the Michigan Democrat who authored the House abortion restrictions.“I have had no negotiations with Mr. On the flip side, Stupak has said at least 10 colleagues will oppose a bill that doesn’t include them.
  • Advocates say Florida's vulnerable populations face potentially 'devastating' cuts
    Mar 10, 2010 — The Florida Times-Union
    Cut off at age 18, foster teens are at high risk of homelessness and pregnancy. Michael Cusick, of the Florida Children's Forum, said a special waiver that has helped Florida transform its system of foster care could be revoked if funding falls much more. An agreement with the federal government required certain funding levels based on the number of children in each community.
  • Allergies Acting Up? Dramatizing the Body's Responses to Allergens
    Mar 10, 2010 — New York Times
    What are the symptoms of allergies, from seasonal allergies to pet allergies and food allergies, ranging from mild to severe? What happens when the immune system of someone with allergies is first exposed to allergens? What role does histamine play in causing allergy symptoms?
  • Area doctors to treat patients online
    Mar 10, 2010 — The Buffalo News
    The technology also manages the availability of physicians, freeing them to talk to patients at their convenience. Dr. Critics also argue that a video session is no replacement for a physical exam. But Schoenberg and others said that not all physician-patient encounters require a physical exam. If you have a migraine, the doctor doesn't need to feel your head," said Schoenberg. "This is one tier of health care.
  • Assessing the Eric Massa impact (or lack thereof)
    Mar 10, 2010 — Washington Post
    In the short term, the impact is fairly obvious. For Democrats, Massa's seeming unwillingness to go quietly into that good night means a week filled with distractions as the party attempts to rally behind President Obama's health care plan. Without Palin, Huckabee (29 percent) and Romney (28 percent) are in a statistical dead heat.
  • Barack Obama comes to town hoping to sell health insurance overhaul
    Mar 10, 2010 — St. Louis Post-Dispatch
    Republicans in Congress also planned to weigh in: Rep. Claire McCaskill and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee at the Renaissance Grand Hotel in St. Louis in time for the president's speech because of Senate business.
  • Brown calls his election `a message' against health bill
    Mar 10, 2010 — The Boston Globe
    But later yesterday, the freshman senator voted against an amendment cosponsored by Kerry to provide $1.3 billion for summer jobs programs for young people. But he said he did so only to break a logjam and he planned to vote against the measure later on the grounds that it is too costly.
  • Business groups target lawmakers
    Mar 10, 2010 — The Washington Times
    Obama's final push to rally Democrats to support his bill. Josten said health insurers have bought into the campaign as well. The health insurance industry has faced sharp criticism from the Obama administration and Democrats on Capitol Hill for recording climbing profits as consumers see their premiums spike. Mr.
  • California Assembly hearing to look at rescinded health insurance issue
    Mar 10, 2010 — The Sacramento Bee
    ...policies rescinded by the state's five largest health insurers between 2004 and 2008. The Managed Health Care Department attempted to inform 3,366 affected subscribers of the settlements via letter, but only 177 of those letters resulted in new coverage and only 92 subscribers recovered out-of-pocket medical expenses, totaling $870,000. Lynn Randolph, spokeswoman for the Managed Health Care Department, took issue with the criticism. She said the low participation rate is...
  • Column: Not that hungry for change
    Mar 10, 2010 — USA Today
    Not that hungry for change Washington has misread the public. By Michael Medved According to the all-but-unchallenged conventional wisdom, the American people feel angry at the status quo and demand dramatic change. Yes, the Democrats miscalculated by underestimating the deeply conservative nature of the American people, but the Republicans may yet miscalculate themselves by interpreting that conservatism as ideological rather than temperamental.
  • Common set of school standards to be offered
    Mar 10, 2010 — Washington Post
    President Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address is listed as an informational text for ninth- and 10th-graders. The George H.W. Bush and Clinton administrations tried and failed in the 1990s to establish voluntary national standards, leaving expectations for students up to states. Martin O'Malley (D) predicted his state would adopt the common standards.
  • Cost projections complicate Democrats' efforts to twin health, student loan measures
    Mar 10, 2010 — Washington Post
    Anticipating problems in the Senate, where a handful of Democrats are eager to protect lenders in their home states, congressional leaders included the student loan overhaul in budget reconciliation instructions for the current fiscal year. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), whose state is home to Nelnet, a major private lender, and Sens. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), all of whom have expressed serious concerns about the health-care bill.
  • Democrats weigh twinning health, student loan measures
    Mar 10, 2010 — Washington Post
    That would provide the bill with the same protections from a Senate filibuster that are also being extended to health care. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), whose state is home to Nelnet, a major private lender, and Sens. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), all of whom have expressed serious concerns about the health-care bill.
  • Dems: No Thanks To New 'gang Of 14'
    Mar 10, 2010 — Politico
    If they do health care through reconciliation, it will be the same consequence. It would be a smaller bill,” Lieberman said.The Gang of 14 averted a plan in 2005 by Republican Senate leaders to abolish the filibuster for judicial nominees. Having to take the bill through the committee process would complicate the Democratic push to finish the bill by Easter.
  • Economic Scene: Wishing for a Health Care Plan That Cuts Costs
    Mar 10, 2010 — New York Times
    Hospitals that committed certain medical errors — harmful, costly errors — would face financial penalties. So I agree that health reform should do more to reduce spiraling medical costs. Mainly, the subsidies appear to benefit drug makers, hospitals and insurers.
  • EDITORIAL
    Mar 10, 2010 — The Sacramento Bee
    The San Francisco Democrat will need to call on all her vaunted vote-corralling skills and to dip into the goodwill she has built over the years. Anti-abortion Democrats are angry that the Senate bill includes less-restrictive abortion language than the House bill. They heard the public outrage over the "Cornhusker Kickback," "Louisiana Purchase" and other special goodies in the Senate bill.
  • Eric J. Massa Says He Tickled House Staff Member
    Mar 10, 2010 — New York Times
    On Tuesday, Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, dismissed Mr. Massa’s assertions as “crazy allegations,” pointedly noting how Mr. Massa lost in his first try to win the House seat in 2006.
  • Face-Off: Sebelius Confronts Insurers
    Mar 10, 2010 — Politico
    Ignagni, head of America’s Health Insurance Plans. "But the politics as usual in Washington won't address the underlying affordability issues, so we have to move beyond the politics of vilification and get to the process of problem solving."It was a snapshot of the biggest fight in health reform, inside a ballroom at the Ritz-Carlton, with one of President Barack Obama’s top lieutenants giving the insurance industry an earful about how it should stop fighting reform...
  • Few Californians benefiting from rescission settlements
    Mar 10, 2010 — Los Angeles Times
    ...finding coverage through work."Ng said the department had no plans to evaluate the settlements on those terms because such an endeavor would be too costly and time-consuming.Department of Managed Health Care spokeswoman Lynne Randolph said that agency's efforts to stem illegal policy rescissions worked."The DMHC settlements were the first and strongest in the nation to halt health plan abuses," Randolph said. "As a result of DMHC actions, the number of rescissions...
  • Florida unsure if any school reviews will be held in state
    Mar 10, 2010 — The Florida Times-Union
    Alvin Holmes of Montgomery had objected, but Duncan refused to move to another location. He also met with Holmes and another black lawmaker, Democratic Rep. Bob Riley to create charter schools was killed recently in House and Senate committees.
  • Gop Plan: Play On Blue Dogs' Nerves
    Mar 10, 2010 — Politico
    Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) told POLITICO. “The big bill will have passed. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) suggested that much-hated Wall Street firms will benefit from “Build America” bond provisions enriched by House Democrats with Blue Dog support in a pending jobs bill. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) told POLITICO. “If we are going to extend these other provisions for a year, we should also do it for unemployment.
  • Gov. Pat Quinn budget proposal: Borrow $4.7 billion
    Mar 10, 2010 — Chicago Tribune
    Quinn's proposal counts on the federal government continuing to pay a higher reimbursement rate for health care for the poor. Echoing a call by Democratic Comptroller Dan Hynes, Quinn would review, renegotiate or dump many costly contracts that were signed under Blagojevich. Bill Brady of Bloomington, proposed a broader tax credit. Tribune reporters Monique Garcia, Bob Secter and Michelle Manchir contributed.
  • Governors, state school superintendents propose common academic standards
    Mar 10, 2010 — Washington Post
    President Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address is listed as an informational text for ninth- and 10th-graders. The George H.W. Bush and Clinton administrations tried and failed in the 1990s to establish voluntary national standards, leaving expectations for students up to states. Martin O'Malley (D) predicted his state would adopt the common standards.
  • Governors, state school superintendents to propose common academic standards
    Mar 10, 2010 — Washington Post
    President Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address is listed as an informational text for ninth- and 10th-graders. The George H.W. Bush and Clinton administrations tried and failed in the 1990s to establish voluntary national standards, leaving expectations for students up to states. Martin O'Malley (D) predicted his state would adopt the common standards.
  • Health care ad cyclorama to clog airwaves
    Mar 10, 2010 — USA Today
    Health care costs will go even higher, making a tough economy worse. Stop this health care bill we can't afford to pay."The Chamber would not list the 17 states in the ad buy. He says Obama's bill doesn't do enough to drive down health care costs. "It's a missed opportunity," he says.Yahoo!
  • Health secretary calls on insurance providers to back health care overhaul
    Mar 10, 2010 — Los Angeles Times
    But you will also be helping to create a sustainable health insurance market where all Americans will be able to buy coverage. Louis on Wednesday afternoon, where he will speak about health care, the president's second trip this week.
  • Heaven can wait: The health-care edition
    Mar 10, 2010 — Washington Post
    I know you're anxious about the economy and jobs. The United States is the only rich nation that doesn't already make such coverage available outside the job setting. The president's plan is modeled on the plan Republican Mitt Romney passed as governor of Massachusetts, with my support.
  • Hempfield impasse heads to fact-finding
    Mar 10, 2010 — The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
    Employees said it would cost $430 a month to provide health care for themselves and their families. Bus drivers earn hourly wages between $14.33 and $17.46. A second vote is held to confirm the initial vote. If either side changes its position, the report then can be made public. The rejection of the report does not mean the two sides are at an impasse.
  • If this is ramming, we'd hate to see real debate
    Mar 10, 2010 — The Charlotte Observer
    The House passed a version, the Senate passed a version and the House is now likely to vote on the Senate version. Where were they when Republicans used it to cut taxes and make health-care reforms in 1999? And in this case, the Senate has already passed health-care reform without it.
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