Today’s Opinions And Editorials
The Home Stretch Toward A More Caring U.S. The Toronto Star
Progressives will be dismayed by the compromises required to gain this bill's passage. But a look back at the primitive Social Security 1.0 and Medicare 1.0 before later improvements were made to each should reassure them that laying the foundation is the landmark achievement that makes possible a more caring society (David Olive, 1/3).
Avoid Legal Fight By Paying More To Front-Line Hospitals The Boston Globe
The state will not continue to be a national leader in health reform if its Medicaid rates undermine the very hospitals that are on the front lines of universal care (1/4).
Don't Trust States To Create Health Care Exchanges USA Today
To look at a state like Florida, for instance, it's hard to see what would be gained by bringing its political apparatus into decision-making about health care (1/4).
On The House Kaiser Health News
Medicaid pays primary care doctors, on average, 66 percent of what Medicare does. ... (t)his isn't just a problem for doctors. It's also a problem for patients, since doctors inevitably respond to the low Medicaid payments by seeing fewer Medicaid patients (Jonathan Cohn, 1/4)
Coordinating Care Forbes
Chronic diseases are labor-intensive, and the work involved goes well beyond simple service. Reimbursements to doctors should reflect time spent helping the patient (Marc Siegel, 1/3).
Why The Health-Care Bills Are Unconstitutional The Wall Street Journal
President Obama's health-care bill is now moving toward final passage. The policy issues may be coming to an end, but the legal issues are certain to continue because key provisions of this dangerous legislation are unconstitutional (Orrin Hatch, Kenneth Blackwell and Kenneth Klukowski, 1/2).
It's Time To Coordinate Care For The Disabled And Frail Elderly Kaiser Health News
Since the creation of Medicare and Medicaid nearly 45 years ago, the government has operated on the bizarre illusion that it can separate acute medical care from personal assistance and long-term care (Howard Gleckman, 1/4).
This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.