News National Journal | White House Threatens Veto of Republican Health Initiatives
President Obama threatened on Monday to fight or veto three moves afoot in the House to hobble the health care reform law: one that aims to prevent the use of federal dollars to pay for abortions, one that takes money away from new health insurance exchanges, and a third that would expand school health clinics.
NYT | Rule Would Discourage States’ Cutting Medicaid Payments to Providers
In a new effort to increase access to health care for poor people, the Obama administration is proposing a rule that would make it much more difficult for states to cut Medicaid payments to doctors and hospitals.
National Journal | Debate Over Migrant Workers Arises in Vermont Health Care Bill
Vermont is on a fast track to becoming the first state to have a single-payer health care system. Both chambers of the Legislature have passed universal health care bills and a conference committee is hashing out differences in amendments before a final measure is sent to Democratic Gov. Peter Shumlin.
Politico | States turn to work-arounds on health insurance exchanges
The health care reform law requires every state to have an online insurance marketplace, called an exchange, by 2014. If states do not have the framework in place for an exchange by 2013, the Department of Health and Human Services will come into the state and do the job itself.
Blogs
Heritage Foundation | Another Good Swing At Defunding Obamacare—But Not A Hit
The bill scheduled for a vote, HR 1213, would repeal the automatic funding that Obamacare provides for federally-dictated insurance exchanges, the mechanisms to sell the re-fashioned and federally-approved insurance policies.
Heritage Foundation | The Free Market Works for Health Care
Advocates of big-government health care have ruthlessly attacked Representative Paul Ryan’s (R–WI) proposal to reform Medicare, which would give seniors a contribution to apply to the health plan of their choice. Under this “premium support” system, insurers would compete in newly created Medicare exchanges and would face pressure to offer high-value coverage at the best price possible.
