News & Comment
Blogs and Opinion
Science Will Force A Fix by Jim McDermott, seattlepi.nwsource.com | February 16, 2006
Mapping the genome will undermine the logic of private insurance—and force us to adopt universal healthcare. read more »Low Expectations Leavitt by Alexandra Walker, OurFuture.org | February 8, 2006
In the Bush administration, praise is a PR sleight of hand. The more a person or program is publicly lauded by officials, the worse it must be. read more »The America We Believe In by John Edwards, | January 31, 2006
The former vice-presidential nominee sketches a vision of a nation that works for all of us. read more »Health Debtor Accounts by Cindy Zeldin, | January 30, 2006
Turns out wealthy Americans and Wall Street make out best under the "consumer-driven health care" touted by President Bush. read more »Twice Victimized by Jennifer Nevins, | January 26, 2006
The Bush administration will do anything to keep the far right in good graces—even deny contraception to rape victims. read more »Shielding Big Pharma by Stephen Pizzo, | January 25, 2006
Last week, the federal agency supposed to protect consumers gave the pharmaceutical industry a big wet kiss. read more »The Great Republican Rip-Off by Froma Harrop , | January 24, 2006
The Medicare drug program delivers the performance of a used moped for the price of a brand-new Porsche. read more »Reproductive Regression by Carole Joffe, | January 23, 2006
An increase in illegal abortions isn't a theoretical outcome of Roe someday being overturned. It's already happening. read more »The Progressive Wedge by Bernie Horn, | January 20, 2006
If liberals want to win in 2006, the focus must be on fair economic policies, framed to put conservatives on the defensive. read more »Drug Addled by Jacob Weisberg, slate.com | January 19, 2006
The current Medicare fiasco offers a lesson about policymaking in an age of market consensus. read more »
The Latest
House Health Care Bill Criticized as Panel Votes for Public Plan, The New York Times | July 31, 2009
The House Energy and Commerce Committee resumed work Thursday on major health care legislation, voting to establish a government-run health insurance plan, as top Republicans stepped up their criticism of the ambitious legislation. By a vote of 35 to 24, Democrats defeated a Republican effort to eliminate a section of the bill that would create the public health insurance option. more »
Survey: Canadians Like Their Health Care, mcclatchydc.com | July 22, 2009
New Ipsos-McClatchy online polls find that patients in Canada, despite some grumbles about waiting times, are much more likely to say that they have access to all the health care services they need at costs they can afford, by a margin of 65 to 49 percent. more »
Health Insurance Mandate Wins Support, The Washington Post | July 22, 2009
President Obama's dream of dramatically remaking the nation's health-care system is still a long way from reality. But if lawmakers can reach an accord, one thing is virtually certain: For the first time ever, every American would be required to carry health insurance. more »
GOP Fails to Strip Public Option From Health Reform, Associated Press | July 17, 2009
Republicans have failed to strip a government-run benefits plan from the House bill overhauling health care. The House Ways and Means Committee voted 25-15 to keep the government-run option in the bill, rejecting an amendment by Wisconsin Republican Rep. Paul Ryan. All Democrats voted to keep the government option and all Republicans voted to remove it.
Battle Looms Over MRI Cuts, USA Today | July 17, 2009
As Congress debates a sweeping overhaul of the nation's health care system, a battle is brewing over one provision that could affect the availability of MRIs and other tests, particularly in rural areas. more »
Massachusetts Takes a Step Back From Health Care for All, The New York Times | July 15, 2009
The new state budget in Massachusetts eliminates health care coverage for some 30,000 legal immigrants to help close a growing deficit, reversing progress toward universal coverage just as Congress looks to the state as a model for overhauling the nation’s health care system. more »
Insured Bankrupted By Health Crises, The New York Times | July 1, 2009
Health insurance is supposed to offer protection — both medically and financially. But as it turns out, an estimated three-quarters of people who are pushed into personal bankruptcy by medical problems actually had insurance when they got sick or were injured. more »
Health-Care Market Characterized By Consolidation, Not Competition , tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com | June 30, 2009
Senators Closer To $1 Trillion Health Care Bill, Reuters | June 25, 2009
U.S. senators moved closer to agreement on a $1 trillion U.S. health care overhaul that would provide medical coverage to nearly everyone and could be paid for without adding to huge budget deficits. more »
FBI 'Cracks $50 Million Health Care Scam', BBC News | June 25, 2009
The FBI says it has uncovered a $50 million scam involving the U.S. health care system, making arrests in Florida, Michigan and Colorado. Fifty-three people have been charged with defrauding Medicare, the government insurance scheme providing care to the elderly and disabled. Doctors allegedly gave cash to patients to sign paperwork claiming to have had treatments which they were never given. more »
