Health Care Reform Articles - March 24, 2011

Budget battle poses threat to community health centers

GOP targets funds for preventive care

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/articles/2011/03/23/budget_battle_poses_threat_to_community_health_centers/

As health-care law turns 1, supporters using occasion to shape its image

By Amy Goldstein and N.C. Aizenman, Tuesday, March 22, 8:27 PM

This week, a loose federation of left-leaning groups is convening nearly 200 gatherings to peddle the virtues of health-care reform. A women’s speak-out in Philadelphia. A small-business round-table discussion in Albuquerque. A fish fry for seniors in Columbia, S.C. From the Obama administration alone, 42 officials are fanning out to events in 22 states.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/as-health-care-law-turns-1-supporters-using-occasion-to-shape-its-image/2011/03/21/AB2Pk3EB_print.html


Here is a link to PNHP's excellent "Articles of Interest section:

http://www.pnhp.org/news/articles-of-interest


Posted: March 23
Updated: Today at 9:54 AM 

Anthem takes heat for proposed rate increases

Individual policyholders say the hikes, which average about 10 percent, would hurt their businesses and cause delays in care.

By John Richardson jrichardson@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

PORTLAND — The time is coming when he will no longer be able to hold onto his campground business or keep his health insurance, Mike Stella said Tuesday.

http://www.pressherald.com/news/anthem-takes-heat-for-proposed-rate-increases_2011-03-23.html

Where are the health care all-stars? By: Jennifer Haberkorn March 23, 2011 04:31 AM EDT

Democrats are under siege as they mark the first anniversary of health care reformWednesday — and they won't get much help from the star-studded, $125 million support group they were once promised. Wal-Mart Watch founder Andrew Grossman unveiled the Health Information Campaign with great fanfare last June. Tom Daschle and Ted Kennedy's widow, Vicki, were expected to lead the effort. They'd have help from former White House Communications Director Anita Dunn. They'd have an office in Washington with 10 or 15 operatives backing the Affordable Care Act and those who supported it. And they'd have money to spend: Grossman hoped for $25 million a year for five years. But nine months later, the Health Information Campaign has all but disappeared. Its website hasn't been updated since the end of last year. Its executive director and communications director are gone. There's no sign that it has any money. And neither Daschle nor Dunn will return calls asking about it. http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=375E8388-7C97-4D51-A2E7-75C9034929EB The" failed experiment" that has yet to begin: 'Obamacare' is a failed experiment By: Sen. John Thune March 23, 2011 04:41 AM EDT It has been one year since Obamacare was signed into law. This is the same law about which then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, “We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.” It is the same law that Pelosi and her Democratic colleagues jammed through Congress. The same unpopular law that led to Democrats losing control of the House. After a year of learning what is in the law — and seeing its effect on families, small businesses and our economy — it is now clear that Obamacare is a failed experiment. Sadly, this failure was predictable and very expensive. When Sen. Barack Obama was running for president, he repeatedly promised that he was going to reduce “every family’s premiums by as much as $2,500.” We were supposed to see these savings by the end of 2012. Despite these promises, the amount individuals and families pay for health care and insurance continues to rise. Average premiums for individual plans, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, are predicted to increase by $2,100 per family over the next five years under the law. http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=D6BDF6A4-24AA-477B-A8FB-A567361279F0 March 23, 2011, 6:33 AM Boehner, McConnell Push Assault on Health Care Law By MICHAEL D. SHEAR http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/23/boehner-mcconnell-push-assault-on-health-care-law/?smid=tw-nytimespolitics&seid=auto