From press conferences, interviews, and events in Washington, D.C.
Senate Democrats are preparing to give the President an early Christmas present– passage of health reform legislation. A vote is scheduled for Christmas Eve and it appears that Democrats have the votes to pass the bill. It’s been a tough road. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D- [...]
Posts Tagged as ‘health care’
December 22, 2009
The Christmas Rush is On
December 7, 2009
Senate Plods Along on Health Reform
From hearings, press conferences, and interviews in Washington, D.C.
Senators were in Washington over the weekend, sloughing away on health reform legislation. Democrats are hopeful that with slow, but steady progress they can get a final bill by Christmas.
In this week’s Policy & Practice Podcast, we take a look at one of the first amendments made to [...]
November 23, 2009
Not All Turkey and Football: The Policy & Practice Podcast
The Senate cleared a big hurdle last week when it voted 60-39 to bring its health reform bill to the floor for debate. Now the horse race begins as senators jockey with Majority Leader Harry Reid for the provisions they would like to see changed or added. In the meantime, physicians are waiting to see [...]
November 2, 2009
Not Your Usual After-Lunch Speech
From the annual meeting of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law in Baltimore, MD:
It’s not every day when you hear a luncheon speaker discuss how his mom used to greet visitors at the front door while she was less than fully clothed. Especially when the speaker is a member of Congress.
But Rep. Patrick [...]
November 2, 2009
High Stakes for Physicians: The Policy & Practice Podcast
From press conferences, interviews, and more around Washington, D.C.
Physicians have a lot riding on what happens in Congress this year. After months of wrangling over health reform, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) will try to get her version of the health overhaul bill through the chamber. The bill includes a public plan whose rates [...]
October 15, 2009
Hurry Up… and Wait
From the American Academy of Family Physicians Scientific Assembly in Boston.
There was an awful lot of frustration and confusion from the family physicians who turned out for a session at the AAFP meeting about the federal funds available for doctors who adopt health information technology.
It was late afternoon and by my count more than 70 [...]
October 14, 2009
A Seat at the Table
From the American Academy of Family Physicians Scientific Assembly in Boston.
The new president of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), Dr. Lori Heim, wants you to know that the AAFP is politically connected. During her presidential address at the AAFP’s annual meeting, she touted the organization’s advocacy credentials. AAFP leaders have met personally with [...]
October 12, 2009
The Price Tag for Reform: The Policy & Practice Podcast
From press conferences and events in Washington, D.C.
It was all about money on Capitol Hill last week as the Congressional Budget Office released its estimate of the 10-year cost of health reform — at least health reform as envisioned by the Senate Finance Committee. At $829 billion, the bill is expected to cover 94% of [...]
October 5, 2009
Nearing the Finish Line?: The Policy & Practice Podcast
From hearings and press conferences in Washington, D.C.
The Senate Finance Committee is expected to vote on its health reform bill this week. Once out of the committee, there will be more merging, amending, and negotiating. And it’s anyone’s guess what will make it into a final package. In this week’s Policy & Practice Podcast, our [...]
September 21, 2009
A Time to Amend… the Policy & Practice Podcast
Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.)
From Washington, D.C.:
After a long summer of waiting, journalists, policy wonks, and the public can finally start poring over the details of the Senate Finance Committee’s version of health reform legislation. But the work is really just beginning for the committee’s chairman, Sen. Max Baucus (D.-Mont.), who this week will have to [...]
