Opponents of the Obama administration’s contraceptive coverage mandate — including likely GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney — invoke “religious freedom.” But women’s groups and family planning organizations are convinced that the real objective is to limit access to birth control.
Six in ten Americans, including Catholics, said they support a requirement by the Obama administration that health plans supply free contraceptives as a preventive benefit for women.
Plan cuts $320 billion from Medicare and Medicaid, by changing how the government pays providers, slashing payments to drug companies, and changing the way it splits the Medicaid costs with the states.
Lately you’d think President Obama was threatening to push Granny off the cliff. But most of the outrage assumes — incorrectly — that any cuts would necessarily be aimed directly at Medicare patients. History suggests otherwise.
President Obama said he is “willing to look at” a number of ways to reduce health care spending, including provider cuts and changing the eligibility age for Medicare. But he dismissed the Republican approach, saying “it’s not necessary to completely revamp” Medicare to deal with the deficit and the debt ceiling.
“[It] is possible for us to construct a package that would be balanced, would share sacrifice, would involve both parties taking on their sacred cows, would involve some meaningful changes to Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid, that would preserve the integrity of the programs and keep our sacred trust with our seniors . . .
The reaction to Obama’s remarks fell along partisan lines. Here are eight takes–pro and con–on the Presidents address.
KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey and Marilyn Werber Serafini talk with Jackie Judd about President Obama’s Wednesday speech outlining his details for reducing the deficit and hitting back at a Republican deficit plan. In it, Obama laid out his plans for preserving Medicare while cutting spending. Full video of President Obama’s address.
“Beginning in 2017, if you can come up with a better system for your state to provide coverage of the same quality and affordability as the Affordable Care Act, you can take that route instead,” Obama told the governors.
President Barack Obama today defended the 2009 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act pointing to nthe benefits the law has already delivered. At the same time, he said he would be willing to amend the legislation to address some concerns. But, he added, “The time for fighting the battles of the last two years has now passed. It’s time to move forward.”
The number of people who will be helped by some of the law’s key provisions taking effect in September may also be lower than some might expect.
“. . . while it will take some time to fully implement this law, reform is already delivering real benefits to millions of Americans.” — President Barack Obama.
LocalHealthGuide is a health news and information web service for Seattle and the Puget Sound Region. We are independent and unaffiliated with any hospital, medical association or insurer. If you have questions or if your group has an upcoming event that you would like us to cover, please let us know by going to our "Contact Us" page and dropping us a note. -- Michael McCarthy, Editor
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Lost in translation: Lack of trained interpreters can lead to medical errors
Interpreter services at hospitals and other medical settings are often inadequate, forcing family members, including children, to step in, or the task falls to medical staff members who may not speak the language well.
Some insurers deny ER coverage to people who have been drinking
Laws in more than half the states permit insurers to deny payment for medical services related to alcohol or drug use. Faced with the prospect of not getting paid for care, some ER personnel sidestep the problem by simply not testing patients’ blood or urine for alcohol.
Travel insurance can protect your wallet — and your health on vacation
Think your regular health insurance policy will cover you if you get into medical trouble overseas?
Don’t bet on it.
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