First Edition: July 30, 2009
House Democrats break impasse on health reform and Senate Finance draft bill gets boost from CBO analysis, but two new polls reflect growing unease with the overhaul.
Jubilant Democrats Move Ahead, But Still Face Many Obstacles
After weeks of painstaking talks, Democrats celebrated breakthroughs on health care overhaul on both sides of the Capitol. Yet many lawmakers and health care experts said that yesterday's events marked only one step on the very bumpy road to a final deal that President Barack Obama might sign into law (Kaiser Health News).
House Democrats End Impasse On Health Bill
Efforts to pass sweeping health care legislation took a big step forward on Wednesday as House Democratic leaders reached an agreement with fiscally conservative party members that would cut the bill's cost and exempt many small businesses from having to provide health benefits to workers (New York Times).
House Democrats Make A Healthcare Deal
After weeks of fractious debate that threatened to derail President Obama's healthcare overhaul, House Democrats on Wednesday reached a critical if fragile agreement that appeared to pave the way for the chamber to vote on a package in September (LA Times).
Health Deal Sparks Fury On The Left
A House leadership deal with Blue Dogs and an aggressive marketing push by Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) shifted the healthcare debate sharply toward centrist positions Wednesday, sparking threats of rebellion from the left (The Hill).
Lawmakers Cut Health Bills' Price Tag
Key lawmakers on Wednesday moved to cut roughly $100 billion from the cost of health-care reform proposals as they sought to break weeks of gridlock on President Obama's signature legislative initiative before Congress departs for a month-long recess (Washington Post).
House Takes Big Step Toward Healthcare Reform
House Democrats cut a deal with fiscal conservatives in their own ranks on healthcare reform opening the door to a full House vote in September (Christian Science Monitor).
Pick Up In Produce: Obama Makes His Health Pitch
The visit to rural Virginia, along with the earlier stop in Raleigh, was part of the White House sales pitch on health care, as officials have been fretting that the script for Mr. Obama's reform push has been hijacked by critics saying that the government plan could end up hurting the coverage for Americans who already have health insurance (New York Times).
Obama Changes Healthcare Tack To Win Over The Insured
As polls showed eroding support for his overhaul of the nation's healthcare system, President Obama spent Wednesday courting the majority of Americans who already have insurance and are most resistant to the proposed changes (LA Times).
Is Health Bill Too Complex To Grasp?
Olympia Snowe, it seems safe to assume, is following the health care debate a bit more closely than the average American (Politico).
New Poll Finds Growing Unease On Health Plan
President Obama's ability to shape the debate on health care appears to be eroding as opponents aggressively portray his overhaul plan as a government takeover that could limit Americans' ability to choose their doctors and course of treatment, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll (New York Times).
Support Slips For Health Plan
Support for President Barack Obama's health-care effort has declined over the past five weeks, particularly among those who already have insurance, a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll found, amid prolonged debate over costs and quality of care (Wall Street Journal).
Health Care Debate Could Affect 2010 Races
When anesthesiologist Andy Harris appeared on a cable news show last month in his white doctor's coat to discuss the health care debate in Congress, his message was about more than the pros and cons of the legislation (USA Today).
'Free Rider' Penalty For Employers Draws Ire From Advocates, Yawns From Business
A "free-rider" penalty being considered by members of the Senate Finance Committee isn't getting a free ride from advocates for low-wage workers and labor unions (Kaiser Health News).
Taxing 'Cadillac' Health Plans Has Widespread Effects
While you've been trying to follow the ins and outs of the health care debate, you've probably heard some reference to "gold plated" health plans. Or, as President Obama, put it last week: "super-gold-plated Cadillac plans" (National Public Radio).
Would Tax On Benefits Rein In Spending?
The heath-care bill that has been wending its way through the Senate Finance Committee is likely to contain a provision that President Obama opposed during his campaign: a tax on at least some employer-provided insurance plans (Washington Post).
Texas Hospital Flexing Muscle In Health Fight
One of the largest sources of campaign contributions to Senate Democrats during this year's health care debate is a physician-owned hospital in one of the country's poorest regions that has sought to soften measures that could choke its rapid growth (New York Times).
Democrats Find Momentum On Reform
After weeks of infighting and negative headlines, Democrats finally found a little momentum on health care as negotiators broke a critical logjam in the House and the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office delivered a rare piece of good news in the Senate (Politico).
Despite Making Concessions, Insurers Face Renewed Attacks
Health insurers are facing renewed fire from President Barack Obama and Democrats, but are still mostly on board with the president's effort to overhaul the U.S. health-care system (Wall Street Journal).
From D.C. To Your TV: Ad Blitz Set On Health Bill
The healthcare overhaul fight in Washington is bursting into America's livingrooms, and interests from many bands on the political spectrum are trying to transform an often wonky debate over 1,000-page bills into an emotional pitch that can be captured in 30 seconds (Boston Globe).
6 Savvy Senators Labor Quietly To Revise U.S. Health Care
The power to reshape the future of health care in the United States remained more than ever with six U.S. senators Wednesday (Des Moines Register).
Sign up to receive this list of First Edition headlines via email. Check out all of Kaiser Health News' email options including First Edition and Breaking News alerts on our Subscriptions page.
This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.