commonwealth fund newsletter - a very good source

http://tinyurl.com/46b85pl

Health Care Reform: A First Step, not the Final Straw by Delegate Heather Mizeur

Health Care Reform: A First Step, not the Final Straw by Delegate Heather Mizeur 

http://tinyurl.com/4gphhna

Report finds lower insurance premiums, more choices in 2014 for families, businesses under Affordable Care Act

http://tinyurl.com/4s2hk45

Lower Costs and Better Care for Neediest Patients

http://tinyurl.com/67ksz3e

outstanding article that fits in with my views so well.

Obama speaks to Families USA on health reform

Outstanding speech by Obama on reform. need updated media player to see recorded video from this morning's speech.
http://tinyurl.com/4knrc9h

Tell Dems: Force Republicans to go on the record against popular reforms.

please sign petition and spread the word.  

http://tinyurl.com/6zukryq

New GOP scapegoat: public workers

Important news segment on gop attacks on government workers. http://tinyurl.com/4z42ueo
  
this is a well done segment. As a retired fed, I can attest to the value of our work and the merits of the remarks made in this video. The Republican attacks on us is outrageous. But what else is new.

House Republicans Remove "Civil Rights" and "Labor" From Committee Names

Better to be a slave than have civil rights, and employees should not have any protections. 

http://tinyurl.com/4pahqb3

In Health Care, Cost-Cutting Pays Investors

From Businessweek

http://tinyurl.com/4pmk3ca

Investors see health reform's potential

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/47534.html

Impact of reform on national health costs; network help

http://tinyurl.com/2ejth7g

just learned of this report that makes a great case for reform laws + impact on national health costs. many thanks to commonwealth fund and stu guterman and karen davis for this valuable report.  this needs greater publicity.

on another note, I have several friends who are job hunting, some are senior folks with health backgrounds, some are senior with environmental, legal, etc backgrounds, and some are recent graduates, etc.  would appreciate any help in info about positions or persons willing to help them network, e.g., meet with them for informational interviews, etc.  or any other suggestions. 

Insurers Clash With Hospitals And Doctors Over ACO Rules

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2011/January/10/doctors-hospitals-accountable-care-organizations-rules.aspx

this is an important issue; useful article

Debunking False Claims About Health Reform, Jobs, and the Deficit

The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities is a very well respected analytic organization that has liberal leanings, but respected for sound thinking. This review is quite a scathing attack on the Republican criticism of CBO's reports. Hooray for CBPP and CBO.

http://tinyurl.com/28bsb5u

CBO analysis on repeal of health reform

http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=12040

end of life counseling

an article was posted that criticizes the administration's decision on the rules re this provision.  see

http://tinyurl.com/239jb3g

One commenter (Vaccine) on the article. states:

Repealing this regulation in no way prevents doctors from talking to  patients about end of life planning - it just means Medicare won't pay  doctors extra for certain types of conversations.  Conversations, which  incidentally are intended to save the Medicare program money by  encouraging patients to affirmatively think about whether they want  expensive all-means-possible end of life efforts.

I responded to the article and her comment. 


I think Vaccine makes a very useful comment. I agree that end of life counseling is extremely valuable. In essence those who oppose it, are saying they want a government that wants people to die a painful death rather than a peaceful death. However, the political realities is that the administration was politically obligated to remove this language from the regulation, because they did not include it in the proposed rule and they had agreed to remove this language in order to get the bill passed.

sebellius defends reform

http://tinyurl.com/2bbsytd

here is a good defense of reform.  

Countering the attack on health reform

with the attack mounting on health reform, I see the need for us to get involved again in supporting it.  please let me know thoughts on this. 

I am planning to organize phone banks again and welcome help on this.  have some thoughts on pr material. think obama needs to speak from oval office at some point.  rallies are needed.

here are a few talking points

the republicans want a government that:

o    denies health care to 50 million people, so that they can suffer unnecssarily,

o   raises the cost of health care by x%, and increases our debt by $1 trillion

o   raises drug costs for medicare benes

o   lower the quality of medical care and increase inefficiencies in health care

o   insists that dying patients suffer much pain and not allow them the option of a peaceful and/or pain free death

o   undermines the competitiveness of our all our industries to other countries because of the high cost and inefficient health care

is this the government that we want.

or do we want a government that (the opposite of all these statements)

please let me know comments on this.

NYT: U.S. Alters Rule on Paying for End-of-Life Planning

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/health/policy/05health.html?hp

 see this article  by robert pear who first brought the issue to the public's attention. 

Current House Chairs defend health reform

http://go.usa.gov/rK0

a well written counter to Republican plans to dismantle law by the three outgoing democratic committee chairs in the house with jurisdiction over the bill.  

6 States To Watch On Health Reform

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/46945.html

a good article 

kaiser summary of how new health law produces changes in 2011

http://ow.ly/3xn5l