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Nov 25 2009

Don't Rationalize Busting The Budget — Start Over Kaiser Health News
You would be hard pressed to find any health policy expert who isn't disappointed that cost containment has fallen off the health care "reform" express (Robert Laszewski, 11/25).

'Illegal Health Reform'? Not Quite The Washington Post
But it's being taken seriously in some quarters, so it's worth explaining where the Constitution grants Congress the authority to impose an individual mandate. There are two short answers: the power to regulate interstate commerce and the power to tax (Ruth Marcus, 11/25).

Medicaid: Struggling States Need More Help From The Feds Politics Daily
Tucked away in an inner passage of the 1,990-page health care bill passed by the House is a $23.5 billion holiday season gift to states to help them meet the growing costs of Medicaid, which provides medical coverage for the poor. This little-noticed provision is in reality a hidden federal stimulus, much welcome to states, as they confront the looming budget gaps of 2010 and beyond. (Lou Cannon, 11/25).

When Selling Across State Lines Doesn't Work Des Moines Register
In reality, it could lead to less comprehensive coverage and more confusion for millions of Americans (11/25).

False Alarm On Abortion The New York Times
(T)his public battle exaggerates the extent to which the Stupak amendment would really change things for women seeking abortions. And, at the same time, it obscures the other benefits that expanded health insurance coverage could bring to women's reproductive health (Phillip B. Levine, 11/24).

Cost Of Legislation The Denver Post
Instead of creating an enforceable individual mandate, however, both the House and Senate bills establish a clear disincentive for healthy people to secure or maintain coverage (John Martie, 11/25).

How To Blend Health Bills The Palm Beach Post
One senator predicted that next week's debate will be a "holy war." How about a truce during which the Senate puts country over politics? (11/24).

A Pro Athlete's Lament: U.S. Health Care Discriminates USA Today
Many of the minor leaguers aren't sure whether they will buy COBRA — temporary coverage at group rates. They can't afford it. The majority earned about $10,000 for the 2009 season (Garrett Broshuis, 11/25).

This article was reprinted from khn.org with permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent news service, is a program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health care policy research organization unaffiliated with Kaiser Permanente.