Health Care Reform News – February 5, 2010

TOP STORIES

Obama Maps a Way Forward for a Health Overhaul; The New York Times – Prescriptions blog – Feb. 5, 2010

Speaking to enthusiastic supporters at a fundraiser here, President Obama on Thursday evening presented his clearest plan yet to move forward with comprehensive health care legislation, saying that he wanted to meet with Democrats, Republicans and independent experts, lay out the facts for the American people and then, he said, “I think that we have got to move forward on a vote.”

G.O.P. Senator Is Sworn In, and Democrats Regroup ; The New York Times – Feb. 4, 2010

President Obama and Congressional Democratic leaders sought to reset their agenda as they lost their 60th vote in the Senate on Thursday, trying to push ahead with measures to spur more job creation even as they grasped for ideas to keep alive their health care legislation.

Insurance

Anthem Blue Cross Dramatically Raising Rates for Californians With Individual Health Policies‘ The Los Angeles Times – Feb. 5, 2010

California’s largest for-profit health insurer is moving to dramatically raise rates for customers with individual policies, setting off a furor among policyholders and prompting state insurance regulators to investigate.

Transparency/Safety

Obama’s Budget: More Money, New Name for Comparative Effectiveness Research ; HealthLeaders – Feb. 4, 2010

While Congress may not have approved healthcare reform legislation yet, one of the more well-discussed—and sometimes controversial—areas included in the reform bills was included in President Obama’s proposed fiscal 2011 budget: comparative effectiveness research (CER).

However, a scan of the proposed budget will detect no references to “CER;” its new name is instead: “patient-centered health research.”

Medical Group Urges New Rules on Radiation ; The New York Times – Feb. 4, 2010

The American Society for Radiation Oncology has called for enhanced safety measures in administering medical radiation, including the establishment of the nation’s first central database for the reporting of errors involving linear accelerators and CT scanners.

Wellness/Chronic Care

Report: 40% of Cancers are Preventable; USA Today – Feb. 4, 2010

About 40% of cancers could be prevented if people stopped smoking and overeating, limited their alcohol, exercised regularly and got vaccines targeting cancer-causing infections, experts say.

State news

Washington State Mulls ‘Public Option’ Health Insurance; The Puget Sound Business Journal – Feb. 4, 2010

The Washington state Health Care Authority said it plans to ask private insurers to help it create a coverage option that anyone in the state could buy for about $100 a month.

Illinois Top Court Strikes Down Medical Malpractice Caps; The Chicago Tribune – Feb. 4, 2010

The Illinois Supreme Court struck down the state’s medical malpractice law, saying it violates separation of powers by allowing lawmakers to interfere with a judge’s ability to reduce verdicts.

Baptist Hospital Forms Neurology Unit; Jacksonville Business Journal – Feb. 3, 2010

Jacksonville, FL-based Baptist Health said it has merged existing neurology practices and hired new staff to form Baptist Neurology Group. It will be a nine-doctor, three-location neurology practice that will ultimately be consolidated to a dedicated inpatient unit for neurology and neurosurgery at Baptist Medical Center.

SCHIP

Millions More Children Added To Medicaid, CHIP Rolls In 2009 ; Kaiser Health News – Feb. 4, 2010

About 2.6 million previously uninsured children gained coverage last year in government health programs, according to a federal study released today.

Reform efforts

Obama’s Next Step; Politico – Feb. 4, 2010

Months after Congress abandoned any hopes of a broad bipartisan deal on health care reform, President Barack Obama said Thursday the “next step” on health care reform involves going back to the negotiating table with Republicans.

Sen. Landrieu Defends Medicaid Deal for La.; AP/The Washington Post – Feb. 5, 2010

Called a prostitute by conservative talk show hosts, a Louisiana Democrat on Thursday defended a deal she cut for her Hurricane Katrina-ravaged state in the Senate health care bill.

Prescription drugs

Stalled Health Care Bill Leaves Drug Makers in Regulatory Limbo ; The New York Times – Feb. 4, 2010

With the possible demise of health care legislation, getting back to business as usual may not be the best thing for the nation’s drug makers.

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