Updated to November 25, 2009
Over the past months we have posted a variety of items related to the quest for health care reform in the United States. See our last posting at “Health Care Update as of the Beginning of October 2009. The quest continues. During the last month the House of Representatives passed HR 3962(Affordable Health Care for America Act) on November 7 and the Senate has at least agreed to begin debate on their bill HR3590 (Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act) on November 21.. Given the historical record of attempts at health care reform these are remarkable achievements but we still do not know if the end is in sight.
Rather than engage in extended discussion on this posting we will concentrate identifying selected documents related to the two bills mentioned above and close by mentioning a few recent news articles of interest. First the documents:
Selected Documents Related to HR 3962 – “Affordable Health Care for America Act”:
Press Release: House Makes History on Health Reform
Selected Documents Related to HR 3590 – “Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act”
Statement of Administration Policy Regarding HR 3590
CBO Score: Top-Line Facts According to the Heritage Foundation. Senate bill. 3950
Senate Roll Call vote for HR 3590 on 11/21/2009 at 7:55PM
Other Sources:
Op-Ed Contributor False Alarm on Abortion
By PHILLIP B. LEVINE Published New York Times: November 25, 2009 What is being overlooked in the abortion debate is the other benefits that expanded health insurance coverage could bring to women’s reproductive health.
Budget Hawks Have a Buffet of Options With Health Bill
By DAVID LEONHARDT Published New York Times: November 25, 2009 Senators who say theyre serious about reducing health care costs have plenty of opportunities in the current bills to fulfill their goals
Published New York Times: November 19, 2009 Key Differences in the Health Care Plans The health care proposals from the House and the Senate are broadly similar but differ on some major issues. Click here to see a more detailed comparison of the two plans.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/11/19/us/politics/1119-plan-differences.html
Senate Says Health Plan Will Cover Another 31 Million By ROBERT PEAR and DAVID M. HERSZENHORN Published New York Times: November 19, 2009 Senator Harry Reid put forward his version of the health care overhaul, promising it would reduce the deficit while covering most of the uninsured.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/health/policy/19health.html
Selected Recent Editorials from New York Times regarding health care reform.
Where two contentious issues intersect: Immigration and health House measure omits Senate panel’s legal test (David Montgomery) Washington Post Nov 16.
A Milestone in the Health Care Journey, By Ronald Brownstein. An essay published on the Atlantic website,, November 21, 2009