Medicare - Medicare Hospital Trust Fund Will Run Out of Money by 2019, Trustees Say The Medicare hospital trust fund will become insolvent by 2019, one year later than estimated last year, according to a report released on Monday by the board of trustees for Medicare and Social Security, the Washington Post reports (Lee, Washington Post, 4/24). The board includes four Bush administration of www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=44455

2007-04-24

President-Elect Obama's Transition Team Solicits U.S. Residents' Opinions on Health Care in Nationwide Campaign Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), head of President-elect Barack Obama's health transition team and likely nominee for HHS secretary, on Friday announced a nationwide campaign to gather public input on improving the U.S. health care system, the Denver Post reports (Riley, Denver Post, 12/7) www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=55959

2008-12-08

Medicaid - New Medicaid Proof-of-Citizenship Rules Blocking Access to Program for Thousands of U.S. Citizens, State Officials Say Medicaid programs in seven states have reported declines in enrollment during the past year that they attribute to new federal rules requiring beneficiaries and applicants to provide documentation proving their U.S. citizenship, the New York Times reports. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 includes a provisi www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=43508

2007-03-12

Capitol Hill Watch - Senate Republicans Block Debate on Bill That Would Delay Medicare Physician Payment Cut Senate Democrats on Thursday failed to obtain the 60 votes required to invoke cloture and begin debate on a bill (S 3101) that would delay for 18 months a 10.6% reduction in Medicare physician fees scheduled to take effect on July 1 and increase payments by 1.1%, among other provisions, CQ Today reports. The www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=52729

2008-06-13

State Watch - State Senate Committee To Consider California Health Care Proposal as Newly Released Report Assesses Plan's Finances Depending on alternative financial scenarios, compromise health care legislation (ABX1 1) negotiated by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and state Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D) could be adequately financed, or it could result in a $4 billion budget shortfall within five years, according to a rep www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=49981

2008-01-23

Administration News - President Bush Vetoes SCHIP Reauthorization and Expansion Legislation for Second Time President Bush on Wednesday vetoed legislation that would have reauthorized and expanded SCHIP, the New York Times reports. Lawmakers sent Bush the bill 10 days ago, and he had until Wednesday to veto it or allow it to become law (Gay Stolberg, New York Times, 12/13). The legislation (HR 3963) would have exp www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=49391

2007-12-13

State Watch - California Gov. Schwarzenegger Proposes Universal Health Coverage for All State Residents, Including Undocumented Immigrants California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Monday announced a proposal that would require all state residents to obtain health insurance and would share the cost among employers, individuals, health care providers, health insurers and the government, the San Francisco Chronicle reports (Chorneau, San Franc www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=42020

2007-01-09

Capitol Hill Watch - House Democrats Likely Will Support SCHIP Compromise Bill Some House Democrats are 'unhappy with concessions their leaders are proposing to make' on compromise SCHIP legislation, including on spending and Medicare revisions, but they likely will not oppose the final bill, CQ Today reports (Wayne, CQ Today, 9/17). The draft compromise bill, announced on Sunday, clos www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=47578

2007-09-18

Capitol Hill Watch - Senate Approves Prescription Drug User Fee Act Reauthorization Bill That Includes Post-Market Safety Provisions The Senate on Wednesday voted 93-1 to approve a bill (S 1082) that would reauthorize the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, which will expire on Sept. 30, the Wall Street Journal reports (Wilde Mathews, Wall Street Journal, 5/10). The legislation, which the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=44828

2007-05-10

State Watch - California Gov. Schwarzenegger Threatens To Veto Democrats' Health Care Legislation California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on Wednesday said he will veto a health care bill by Democratic lawmakers if it relies solely on employer contributions for funding, the Sacramento Bee reports. The Democrats' bill would require employers to spend at least 7.5% of payroll on employee benefits (Yamamu www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=47107

2007-08-24