It is mentioned, almost in passing, that the “healthcare reform” on the verge of becoming law starts collecting premiums and taxes immediately, and promises benefits only in about four years. What kind of emergency is that? (more)

Isn't one of the ways to expand coverage in the democrat's health reform bills to expand Medicare and Medicaid? If you are on Medicare, don't plan on getting the best medical care in the country. Bloomberg reported: Dec. 31 (Bloomberg) -- The Mayo Clinic, praised by President Barack Obama as a national model for efficient health care, will stop accepting Medicare patients as of tomorrow at one of its primary-care clinics in Arizona, saying the U.S. government pays too little. (more)

Now that health care reform has been tailored to the demands of Sen. Joe Lieberman, there’s real debate among progressives about whether it’s worth doing at all. Former DNC chairman and presidential candidate Howard Dean writes: “Any measure that expands private insurers’ monopoly over health care and transfers millions of taxpayer dollars to private corporations is not real health-care reform.” (more)

Conservatives for Patients' Rights (CPR), a group that has aired ads against the current healthcare reform proposals, announced on Wednesday that it would suspend its campaign in the wake of Sen. Ted Kennedy's (D-Mass.) death. (more)

After the toughest week yet for health reform, leading Democrats are warning that the party likely will have to accept major compromises to get a bill passed this year – perhaps even dropping a proposal to create a government-run plan that is almost an article of faith among some liberals. (more)

While we clearly need health-care reform, the last thing our country needs is a massive new health-care entitlement that will create hundreds of billions of dollars of new unfunded deficits and move us much closer to a government takeover of our health-care system. Instead, we should be trying to achieve reforms by moving in the opposite direction—toward less government control and more individual empowerment. Here are eight reforms that would greatly lower the cost of health care for everyone (more)

During summer recess, Congressional leaders are hearing an earful from constituents about health insurance reform. In numerous town hall meetings around the nation, opponents of reform have emerged in large groups battling the proposals. President Obama vociferously argues that those opposed to his reform proposals are “spreading outlandish rumors and misleading information”, and the Administration blames Republican and industry backed groups and conservative talk-show hosts for “staging” the outcry. (more)

Just about an hour ago, negotiations between Blue Dogs on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and chairman Henry Waxman broke down, perhaps irreconcilably. Earlier today, Waxman lashed out at the conservative Democrats for trying to "eviscerate" house health care legislation, and threatened to bypass their concerns completely in order to get a timely floor vote on a healthy bill. That seems to have sent tempers flaring. "It pretty much fell apart this afternoon," said key Blue Dog Mike Ross (D-A... (more)

John Roberts, on the July 21 edition of American Morning, appeared to expect Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal to turn in a weak performance on the issue of health care. Hilarity ensued, as Jindal, who turned down Harvard Medical and Yale Law for a Rhodes scholarship at Oxford, proved to be anything but a pushover. (more)

Here is video of GOP Rep. Charles Boustany of Louisiana talking about what he calls "an interesting development" in the Health Care battle. He says "Blue Dog" Democrats - more conservative Dems - are beginning to talk with House Republicans about working together to come up with a Health Reform Plan not as radical as what Obama is proposing. (more)