News About Health Care Reform

Insurance

Think Gas Prices are High? Watch Out for Health Care
USA Today (op ed by Phil Bredesen, governor of Tennessee)
Gas prices are in the political spotlight right now; this year's spike has been painful and the calls for action — and heads — have pushed other issues to the side. But it is worth remembering that when it comes to real, sustained growth in costs, when it comes to real, sustained erosion of families' disposable income, gas still can't hold a candle to the real elephant in the room: health care.

Health Care Costs to Exceed CPI for Years
Health Populi (blog)
Health care costs will grow an average of nearly 10% in 2009. Pricewaterhouse Coopers reports their anticipated health cost trends in the company's latest issue of Behind the Numbers.

Transforming Health Care
Washington Times (op ed by Rep. Tom Price, Georgia Republican, who practiced orthopedic surgery for 20 years before serving in Congress)
Yesterday, we observed the anniversary of one the most consequential pieces of legislation in our nation's history. It was 43 years ago that President Johnson, supported by members of both parties, signed the Social Security Amendments Act of 1965, creating our Medicare program and ensuring health care coverage for all seniors. Today, both parties stand together again, bound by the idea that we require a fundamental health care overhaul to ensure every American has access to quality, affordable care. What is troubling, however, is that many in Washington see Medicare as the blueprint for this reform.

SCHIP

Counting SCHIP Votes
The Hill

It's coming back. The long-stalled State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) bill that was vetoed by President Bush is likely to be back on the House floor in the fall.

Prescription Drugs

Senate, House Members Introduce Bill to Provide Doctors With Unbiased Information About Prescription Drugs
Medical News Today

Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Herb Kohl (D-WI), Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Ted Kennedy (D-MA), and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) were joined by House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) and House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) in introducing a bill in both chambers to provide doctors with unbiased information on prescription drugs. This federal "academic detailing" program would provide physicians and other prescribers with an objective source of information on all prescription drugs, based on independent, scientific research. Currently, pharmaceutical sales representatives are one of the only ways doctors learn about new drugs on the market, and evidence has shown that interaction with them can impact doctors' prescribing patterns.

Employers

Health-Care Reform, Corporate Style
Business Week

In a climate of deepening healthcare woes, more companies are trying to save money by opening work-site medical clinics. Toyota Nissan, Harrah's Entertainment, and Walt Disney Parks & Resorts are among the converts.

Miscellaneous

Revolution Health Exploring a Sale
Revolution Health, the health information company launched by AOL Founder Steve Case, hired investment bank Morgan Stanley to help the company raise capital and explore a possible sale or merger, Workforce Management reports.

The company Case (pictured) started with a big of his own fortune in 2005 had the idea of helping health plans educate their members on how to become better health-care consumers. But three years later, many believe the company is still struggling to find its niche.

Updated August 1, 2008

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