Healthcare Bill's Makeover

The healthcare bill’s new draft includes 153 pages of fixes. Although most Democrats do not think it’s perfect, there is a growing consensus that it is as good as it’s going to get. Nancy Cordes reports.

By: CBSNewsOnline
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr_6_kjwgMY
keyword: healthcare bill

Our Nation's Healthcare – Politically Correct Process to Passing the Bill

Politically correct…. is it possible in heath care politics? January 20th 2010 gave birth to a different type of legislative body. And nobody could be more surprised than the Democratic Party. With American legislators on the verge of passing the biggest health care bill in the nation’s history, an unusual event left the Democrats in awe. Massachusetts elected a Republican Senator, crushing the Democrats stronghold in Congress. Previously held by Ted Kennedy, a lifelong democrat and proponent of the Health care bill, the seat provided Democrats with a filibuster proof majority in the senate, outnumbering the GOP 60 to 40. Scott Brown won the Massachusetts senate race in a landslide and was welcomed to office with chants of “Seat him now! Seat him now!” Now if the Democratic Party wishes to pass the health care bill with little imposition from the Republicans they have to make some compromises. The House may consider passing the Senate’s version of the bill without the mark-ups or revisions. This is a feasible option because it would enable democrats to avoid the long impeding process of a potential filibuster. Although some are unhappy with the Senate version of the bill, many are under the impression that some version of the health care bill is better than no version at all. With mid-term elections right around the corner Democrats are eager to enact legislation in case tides turn and Republicans rally support for a Republican majority hold in congress.

It appears that President Obama will not be urging to rush legislation quickly through the House. With quotes like: ” Giving this some time and letting the dust settle, if you will, and looking for the best path forward”(Dallas Morning News). And with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi on the skeptical side, it seems the Senate’s Version of the bill just doesn’t have enough support amongst its legislators in the House. Pelosi points fingers at parts of the legislation that congressman claim aid only certain states. For example; an addition was made to the bill regarding specifically Nebraska’s Medicaid system to win over the vote of Senator Ben Nelson. Another controversial topic concerning House representatives is the issue regarding Federal subsidies the Senate’s version of the bill would offer to individuals, particularly that the subsidies are not sufficient. Also the tariff on “Cadillac Insurance Plans” as they are called on Capitol Hill, that some fear would anger union members and was language that was left out of the House’s version of the bill. Now Democrats have made some agreements to merge both versions of the bill, however it is not enough in the eyes of the Republican Party, who fear government interference in the industry. If Democrats wish to pass the healthcare bill now they are limited to one option; write an entirely new, and essentially more moderate, version of the bill that would meet republican’s conservative standards. It is time to become politically correct in politics.

By: Cameron Patrick Ross
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Our-Nations-Healthcare—Politically-Correct-Process-to-Passing-the-Bill&id=3750327
keyword: healthcare bill

margaret moth

http://www.vids4us.com Simply put, Margaret Moth made an impression. Given her jet-black hair, thick black eyeliner, black clothes and combat boots (which she often slept in while on assignment), people didn’t always know what to think upon meeting her.

By: sntterful
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpHdsIMbw3g
keyword: healthcare vote results

Healthcare Bill and Its Impact on Medicare

The Senate Health Bill has been grabbing headlines for months as members of the Senate continue to debate spending, bill allotments, and the merits of improved or universal healthcare coverage. The latest iteration of this bill in late November and included a price tag of $849 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. $200 billion alone would be set aside to help cover doctors’ fees so that they would not suffer from a drastic cut back to reimbursement rates.

Much in keeping with the diversity of American opinion, this bill has come with more than its fair share of controversy, sparking heated debates on both sides of the political aisle.

Bill controversy

Democrats and Republicans are sharply divided over the merits and allocations included in this healthcare bill. The final vote on the bill showcased this division; the voting results were nearly entirely along party lines. In the 243 to 183 win by the Democratic-controlled House, only 11 Democrats voted against the bill and only one Republican voted for the bill. That Republican is also an obstetrician – Rep. Michael Burgess of Texas.

Republicans called the $200 billion allocation to cover doctors’ fees a political payoff and labeled it as the Democrats’ way of thanking physicians for their support of President Obama’s healthcare overhaul.

What’s included in the bill and how will it affect Americans?

The new healthcare bill, which will go into effect in 2010, is said to provide coverage to 94 percent of Americans. The bill is also estimated to cut the federal deficit by $127 billion during its first ten years. In its second decade, the bill is estimated to cut the federal deficit by as much as $650 billion. Over a 20-year period, it is believed that the bill would cut the federal deficit by $777.

However, in order to cut this deficit, the bill will reduce payments for Medicare plans and cut spending in a wide variety of other areas. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that seniors on Medicare will have to pay $49 billion in higher healthcare premiums over the next 10 years, passing along much of the healthcare expenses to Medicare beneficiaries.

Additionally, because of reduced payments and services covered by the bill, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that Americans will see a $195 billion price increase in doctors’ fees for those doctors who treat Medicare patients. With only a percentage of those fees being covered by Medicare, patients themselves will have to make up the difference out of their pockets. TRICARE (the military healthcare program) beneficiaries would see an increase in fees by about $64 billion for non-military physicians who see patients enrolled in the TRICARE program.

How can Americans protect themselves from these price increases?

While it may be impossible to predict exactly how this bill will impact Americans and their pocketbooks until the bill is fully approved and implemented, Americans would be wise to begin looking for alternative healthcare solutions. Many Americans on Medicare may want to investigate alternatives to Original Medicare plans, including Medicare Advantage Plans.

Also, as healthcare prices increase, so will the prices of prescription medications and other medical services. Therefore, many Medicare beneficiaries would benefit by enrolling in Medicare Supplement insurance plans to help cover the cost of price increases and of items that are not covered by Original Medicare plans.

Managing the national healthcare system has proved to be a challenge and a politically derisive topic – especially over the past year. While changes are inevitable and are sure to impact every American, Americans can help to protect their health and their pocketbooks by focusing on maintaining or improving their health in controllable ways. Enrolling in affordable healthcare programs, such as a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplemental insurance program, may also help to save Americans a significant amount of money at the doctor’s office.

By: Wiley P Long
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Healthcare-Bill-and-Its-Impact-on-Medicare&id=3337977
keyword: healthcare vote results