Bill Could Kill Doc-Owned Hospitals

Obama's reforms are a step in the right direction, former Senate majority leader says

(NEWSER) - Health care reform legislation has the unexpected support of a prominent physician: former Senate Republican leader Bill Frist. If he were still in politics, “I would end up voting for it," Frist said. The surgeon also blamed some Republicans for not engaging seriously in the health care debate: “Clearly, the death panels and public plan arguments have been overblown." More»

Big speech to Congress next week likely to make or break health care reform

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama's address to a joint session of Congress next Wednesday could well be the biggest moment of his presidency, Nate Silver writes in FiveThirtyEight. Two-thirds of voters are still confused about the president's plans for health care, and this speech will be a make-or-break chance to give them some clarity and help get genuine reforms passed, he notes. More»

(NEWSER) - Diane McWhorter’s experience with a doctor caring for her elderly mother has her hoping for more than health care reform. “Socialized medicine, hell,” she writes on DoubleX. “How about a cultural revolution?” Her mom’s doctor, due for a vacation, dumped her on a “hospitalist” after he diagnosed a “dangerous build-up of calcium” caused by prescription medicine. But hey, the doctor said: your mom has “already lived past her life expectancy.” More»

Most Americans don't know 'what's in it for them'

(NEWSER) - With 90% of voters already insured, it’s time for President Obama to put his oratory skills to the test, clearly explaining to Americans how health reform can help us—and not just mean tax hikes, writes David Leonhardt in the New York Times. As it stands, many never see the money coming straight from their paychecks to pay for care. Doctors “appear to be free. What’s not to like?” Leonhardt asks. More»

Divisions among lawmakers may make reaching goal impossible

(NEWSER) - President Obama has called for the passage of a health care bill by August—but that would require an unusually smooth few weeks on Capitol Hill, Politico reports. The Senate Finance Committee hasn’t released a version of the bill planned for early June; disagreements among Democrats in both chambers have made consensus on that side of the aisle look difficult. If nothing’s done by August, the midterm elections could make passing a measure this year difficult. More»