First Edition: November 2, 2009

Today's headlines feature insights into President Obama's behind-the-scenes role in advancing the Democrats' health overhaul efforts in Congress and analysis of the public insurance option.  

Analysis: Public Option Might Play Only Minor Role In Changing Health Care
For all the controversy over a government-run insurance option, the program outlined in health overhaul legislation likely would play a minuscule role in efforts to expand health care coverage, according to many health care experts and lawmakers (Kaiser Health News).

Obama Strategy On Health Care Legislation Appears To Be Paying Off
After months of plodding work by five Congressional committees and weeks of back-room bargaining by Democratic leaders, President Obama's arms-length strategy on health care appears to be paying dividends, with the House and the Senate poised to take up legislation to insure nearly all Americans (The New York Times).

Behind Scenes, President Obama Shepherds The Health Reform Bill
As health care reform legislation inexorably makes its way through Congress, President Barack Obama, who has the biggest stake in its success, has seemed distant from the grueling, detailed work of crafting the reform law (Politico).

Health Care Plan Hits Rich With Big Tax Increases
The typical family would be spared higher taxes from the House Democratic plan to overhaul health care, and their low-income neighbors could come out ahead (The Associated Press).

GOP Set To Propose Its Own Health Bill
Republicans are preparing an alternative health-care bill to Democratic legislation, House Republican Leader John Boehner said, marking a shift in strategy as the full House is set to begin debate on the issue this week (The Wall Street Journal).

Health Insurance Mandate Alarms Some
Among some libertarians and conservatives, the most troubling aspect of the pending healthcare reform bills is the prospect of a federal requirement that Americans buy insurance (Los Angeles Times).

Rep. Barton Wants Hearing With Sebelius, CBO Before Vote
A top-ranking GOP lawmaker is calling on Energy and Commerce Committee chairman Henry Waxman to convene a public hearing with key administration officials on Wednesday before the House votes on the healthcare bill (The Hill).

CBO Rebuts Pros, Cons Of Public Option
A report issued by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office highlights faults with both sides of the argument to create a public health-insurance plan (The Wall Street Journal).

After All The Fuss, Public Health Plan Covers Few
What's all the fuss about? After all the noise over Democrats' push for a government insurance plan to compete with private carriers, coverage numbers are finally in: Two percent (The Associated Press/The Washington Post).

Health Group To Monitor Safety Of Swine Flu Vaccine
Independent health advisers will begin monitoring safety of the swine flu vaccine today, an extra step the government promised in this year's unprecedented program to watch for possible side effects (The Associated Press/The Boston Globe).

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