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Washington Reports: This week’s news on Healthcare Reform and Health Information Technology

By Kevin Fickenscher, MD

Washington Reports: October 12, 2009

• CBO Scores One for Senate Finance Committee
  The Congressional Budget Office released their score on the Senate Finance Committee’s healthcare bill. How will the score impact the ongoing debate?
  
• Are We Going Far Enough, Fast Enough?
  With all of the focus on insurance, many are becoming increasingly critical of whether or not “reform” has been lost in the debate.  Does the Senate bill do enough?
  
• Are Any Good Ideas Out There?
  What are the pundits saying?  What about this “laboratories of democracy” thing?  Are there any themes emerging?
  
• Politics (that’s with a capital “P”) Comes to the Fore
  The good, the bad, and the ugly of politics in America continues.
  
• What’s Next?
  A look at the week ahead in healthcare reform.
  
• Quote of the Week

Washington Reports: October 05, 2009

• The Moderates Seize Control!!
  The Senate Finance Committee rejected two separate proposals for creating a publicly funded health insurance option as part of their healthcare reform bill. What are the implications?  What are the Committee’s objectives?
  
• Further Senate Finance Developments and the Shift of Center Stage
  The Senate Finance Committee finalized their package in the wee hours Friday morning.  Other changes, aside from the public option, are now moving forward, and Senator Harry Reid takes center stage.
  
• Keeping It All in Perspective
  As Senator Dirksen (R-IL) observed many years ago, “A million here, a million there, and pretty soon you’re talking real money.”  So, now we’re talking billions!
  
• What’s Happening Outside the Senate?
  Not to be forgotten, the House awaits a discussion with the Senate. 
  
• Polls, Polls, Polls: Where does the public really stand?
  Every week, new data is released discussing public opinion of the ongoing healthcare debate. But can we really trust these polls?
  
• HHS To Release Health IT Funding
  The Department of Health and Human Services announced new health IT grants.
  
• Fall is in the Air
• Quote(s) of the Week

Washington Reports: September 28, 2009

• Oh, By the Way, Mr. President – Are We Doing Too Much?
  How many initiatives can Obama take on?  Are there healthcare reform implications?
  
• The Tortoise and the Hare
  With other healthcare plans moving rapidly through Congress, the Baucus Bill this week began the arduous markup process within the Senate Finance Committee. Will this “slow and steady” approach win the race?
  
• All Hands on Deck
  This week, Vice President Joe Biden emerged as chief spokesman for the Administration on the healthcare debate. Does this signal a change in the President’s efforts?  Does it suggest a new direction for Administration strategy?
  
• And Onto the House
  Much attention has been paid to what is happening in the Senate over healthcare … so where does the House stand in the debate?
  
• Want to Compare the Healthcare Plans?
  Juggling all the various healthcare plans around DC can be confusing. Check out the Kaiser Family Foundation’s great chart that explains all the differences.
  
• Quote of the Week
  In a new section of the report, I will include a memorable line from the past week in healthcare.
  

Washington Reports: September 21, 2009

• Dell to Acquire Perot Systems for $3.9 Billion, Creating Comprehensive, Customer-Focused IT-Solutions Company
• Senator Baucus Steps Out
  Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) released his much-anticipated healthcare bill…finally.  What was the reaction? How does it stack up against President Obama’s plan? Where are we headed?  What does it portend?
  
• This Week's Forecast on Capitol Hill: A Chance of Snowe in Early September
  With the Baucus bill released much attention is now being focused on moderate Republican Olympia Snowe (R-ME) to provide the last needed vote for passing the legislation. But will Snowe balk at supporting such a plan?
  
• So Dr. K, What’s Next?
  The healthcare bill has taken on many strange twists and turns. Let’s look ahead and see what’s next in the debate…
  
• So –What Derails Us?
  We are at a seminal point in the debate on healthcare and the next four months are crucial to the future of the United States…
  
• Update from the HIT Standards Committee
  An update from this week’s HIT Standards Committee in Washington…
  

Washington Reports: September 14, 2009

• And – The Response to the 090909 Obama Speech…
• The Spotlight Shifts to Baucus
• The Hill is Alive With the Sound of Music
• Blumenthal Book Review
• Questions from the Field
• Perot Systems Webinar to Provide Industry Perspective On Health Information Exchange

Washington Reports: September 07, 2009

• Is It Déjà Vu All Over Again with The 090909 Speech?
  Labor Day – September 7, 2009
  
• Will Obama Pull the Plug on Healthcare Reform’s Public Option?
• And, Across the Pond…
• Speaking of Releases – Clarification on “Meaningful Use” To Come Soon
• CCHIT Town Hall
• Massachusetts Health Care Reform: Three Years Later
• Follow On Questions and Updates

Washington Reports: August 30, 2009

• A Lion Sleeps Tonight
• GOP Healthcare Reform Principles Outlined
• The Aggressive Timeline to Meaningful Use
• What’s Black and White and Red All Over? Of Course, The Federal Deficit!!
• John Hummel’s White Paper
• The Heart of Power

Washington Reports: August 24, 2009

• A Growing Snowball Despite the Heat of August – What’s That All About?
• Efforts to Melt the Growing Snowball.
• The Co-Op Movement.
• In Politics Things Always Seem to Come Full Circle.
• Beyond Politics: New Support Announced for Regional Technology Initiatives and Health Information Exchange Networks.
• Interim Final Rule related to Breach Notifications.
• What the Polls are Saying.

Washington Reports: August 18, 2009

• The Health Reform Debate
• Recent News - New York Times Article
• Meaningful Use
• What the Polls are Saying
• The Calendar

Washington Reports: January 01, 0001

• “Meaningful Use” — An Update on Meeting Criteria for Federal Incentive Payments