Democrats may try for healthcare reform alone

According to the Christian Science Monitor, the Democrats will try one more time to pass healthcare reform. However, this time, they are only looking to pass with Democratic approval, which would require only 60 votes to pass. Obama is also expected to make comments on the state of healthcare reform at the end of the week.

The article also addresses these questions when it comes to developing the strategy for passing healthcare:

Does Nancy Pelosi have the votes?
Is it fair to use reconciliation?
Should sweeping change require bipartisanship?

Read the full article here.

Obama Calls for Bipartisan Support for Healthcare Reform

Obama recently stated in his weekly video address that we are seeing "unprecedented consensus" from doctors, nurses, hospitals, and drug manufactures that healthcare reform is no longer a Democrat issue or Republican issue but an American issue that requires an immediate solution. In the address he mentions several new politicians who have his support for the new healthcare reform like Mayor Michael Bloomberg and California State Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Take at the video below provided by the Associated Press. What's your take on it?

White House Address - Eliminating Waste in Medicare Advantage Will Not Affect Benefits

Today the White House uploaded a new video on YouTube in which Mike Hash of the White House Office of Health Reform gets into deeper detail on how reform would eliminate wasteful subsidies to insurance companies in the Medicare Advantage program, without hurting benefits or care and leaving the trust fund intact. Do you agree? Watch the video below.

Obama to Hold Town-Hall Meetings to Face Growing Concerns from Democrats

This latest article in The Wall Street Journal blog discusses how President Barack Obama will hold three local town-hall meetings in order to convince the American public that his new health insurance plan will benefit them.

Obama will focus on emphasizing how legislation would help solve these three problems: the practice of denying insurance coverage to those with pre-existing illnesses, keep people from losing insurance coverage if they get sick, and protecting Americans that face high out-of-pocket costs. Republicans already favor two of three changes Obama proposes, but we will see how Democrats will view these changes shortly, as they have already voiced their concerns.

Governors look at new Obama healthcare plan with concern

In an in-depth look at the current state of Medicaid reform from Obama in the New York Times today, they divulge that many policy makers are concerned about the new Medicaid plan that will cover any non-elderly person who is living at 133% or below the poverty level. This translates to an income of $29,300 for a family of four. The Republicans express disapproval, but are yet to come up with an alternate plan. State governors also meet and have expressed concern as to how they'll cover these new plans with dwindeling budgets and no aid from the government. Read the whole story on opposition to the Obama plan here.

Medicaid Managed Care Congress: Day 2

As Day 2 beings at the Medicaid Managed Care Congress, with a keynote from Senator Tom Daschle.

Senator Tom Daschle kicked off the meeting this morning with a wonderful keynote. He sketched out the Obama administration’s strategy for achieving healthcare reform. He believes that there is a 50-50 shot at significant reform this year and suggested that although health plans are apprehensive about a public plan that this option may serve as a safety net for the numbers of chronically ill not currently covered under traditional Medicare or Medicaid. In addition, he emphasized the continued need for a plan to reform long term care system. Is should focus not only through financial and access issues but also to the pool of primary care providers. As Americans looks to reform the system, policy makers must look to invert the pyramid that exists and move from a sick care based system to a system based on prevention by enriching the pool of quality primary care nurses and physicians to better support a system focused on wellness and prevention.