First Edition: November 30, 2009

Nov 30 2009

In today's headlines, much attention is focused on the Senate as that chamber begins what is expected to be a stormy health overhaul debate.

Seven Things You Didn't Know Were In The Senate Health Bill Kaiser Health News staff writers Mary Agnes Carey, Phil Galewitz and Laurie McGinley team up to look inside the Senate's pending health overhaul legislation. "Pay attention: The "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" -- better known as the Senate health care overhaul bill - is chock full of interesting but little publicized provisions affecting consumers. Sure, the bill is mainly a blueprint for overhauling the insurance system. But look closely and you'll see a variety of items that would affect people from the cradle to old age - from breast pump use to retiree health benefits. It's a congressional tradition, adding pet interests that otherwise might not pass to a big bill that at least will be put up for a vote" (Kaiser Health News).

In Health-Care Reform, No Deficit Cure As the long battle over health care is rejoined in the Senate this week, experts remain deeply divided over whether the legislation would rein in soaring health-care costs or simply add millions of people to a system that is already driving the nation toward bankruptcy (The Washington Post).

Letter From Washington: The Ballistics Of The Health Care Shootout "Victory has a thousand fathers," John F. Kennedy said, "defeat is an orphan." The U.S. Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, soon will rediscover this wisdom (The New York Times).

Senate Debate On Health Bill Set To Begin Monday The Senate is set to begin debate on its health-overhaul bill Monday, with Democrats and Republicans planning to offer amendments on divisive subjects such as abortion and taxes that could hamper passage of the bill (The Wall Street Journal).

Senate Set To Open Stormy Debate On Health Care With the Senate set to begin debate today on revamping health care, the solid Democratic coalition that allowed the bill to advance is fracturing already. The majority Democrats will need 60 votes again to finish, but the 60 votes may not be there anymore (The Associated Press/The Boston Globe).

Dems Seek Deal As Sen. Debate Begins After months of buildup, the historic debate on health care reform opens on the Senate floor Monday — but the C-SPAN cameras won't see the real action (Politico).

Key Players To Watch In Senate Health Care Debate As the Senate begins debate this week on a 10 year, $848 billion health care bill, a few lawmakers are positioned to exert enormous influence over President Obama's top priority as the legislation moves toward its final stages (USA Today).

Critical Decisions This Week On Batch Of Obama Initiatives A cascade of events this week, involving high-profile topics from Afghanistan to health care to jobs, is challenging the Obama White House's strategy of launching so many initiatives so fast in its first year (The Wall Street Journal).

Seven Issues To Watch As Senate Begins Amending Healthcare Bill Senators will be asked to cast their votes on numerous amendments as they begin a debate to reshape the country's healthcare system. Some amendments will be designed to improve the bill, some to satisfy a special interest or pet peeve. Still others will be presented as poison pills (The Hill).

A Tax On Nips And Tucks Angers Patients, Surgeons Last week, a 41-year-old woman who had recently had her first child walked into the office of Dr. Steven Teitelbaum in Santa Monica, Calif., for an operation that tens of thousands of women like her have undergone this year: a breast lift (The New York Times).

Even If Health Bill Passes Soon, Wait For Reforms Could Be Long The White House has a message for Americans suffering under today's health insurance system: "Help is on the way." But not as fast as you might think (The Washington Post).

Former Oregon Gov.Says Key To Health Care Is Costs As lawmakers on Capitol Hill debate health care overhaul legislation, a former governor from Oregon gives the plan little chance of succeeding (NPR).

Kaiser Health News tracked health policy developments during the long holiday weekend, including the continuing debate regarding the abortion language included in the House and Senate proposals, advance coverage of what lies ahead as the Senate is poised to begin its health bill debate and reports indicating that the public option will be a focal point.