First Edition: March 23, 2011

Mar 23 2011

Today's headlines mark the health law's official first birthday and examine where the related policies and politics now stand.

Kaiser Health News: One Year Down, Pollsters Handicap Health Law Politics
Kaiser Health News checked in with pollsters:  From the very beginning, supporters of the health law said the American public would embrace the measure once they learned more about all of its consumer-friendly features. Opponents, especially Republicans, disagreed -- and, for that, some were rewarded in the election of 2010. To get a fresh take on how these perspectives have played out and how public opinion has evolved read the Democratic perspective, offered by Celinda Lake, David Mermin and Dan Spicer; and the Republican view, from Bill McInturff and Lori Weigel.

In related Kaiser Health News health law anniversary coverage, KHN staff asked players and experts from across the nation what they thought the landscape would be like - and, in their view, should be like - by the measure's second birthday.

Kaiser Health News: What Were They Thinking? Cartoons From One Year Ago
When the health law passed the House and was signed into law by President Barack Obama, political cartoonists had a field day. We decided to look back and selected three, all published one year ago today (3/23).

The Washington Post: As Health Care Turns 1, Supporters Using Occasion To Shape Its Image
This week, a loose federation of left-leaning groups is convening nearly 200 gatherings to peddle the virtues of health-care reform. A women's speak-out in Philadelphia. A small-business round-table discussion in Albuquerque. A fish fry for seniors in Columbia, S.C. From the Obama administration alone, 42 officials are fanning out to events in 22 states (Goldstein and Aizenman, 3/22).

NPR: As Health Law Turns 1, Debate Far From Settled
Wednesday marks a year since President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law. But in those ensuing 12 months, the debate has barely missed a beat (Rovner, 3/23).

The Washington Post: The Fact Checker: Are Unions Getting A 'Disproportionate' Break From The Health Care Law?
The first anniversary of passage of the health-care law has led to a flurry of bogus claims both for and against what detractors called "Obamacare." We have looked at a number of these claims in our last two articles. But when we heard Sen. John Barrasso on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" show Monday, we had to do just one more, since his comments echoed a recurrent GOP theme (Kessler, 3/22).

Politico: Where Are The Health Care All Stars?
Democrats are under siege as they mark the first anniversary of health care reform Wednesday — and they won't get much help from the star-studded, $125 million support group they were once promised. Wal-Mart Watch founder Andrew Grossman unveiled the Health Information Campaign with great fanfare last June. Tom Daschle and Ted Kennedy's widow, Vicki, were expected to lead the effort. They'd have help from former White House Communications Director Anita Dunn. They'd have an office in Washington with 10 or 15 operatives backing the Affordable Care Act and those who supported it (Haberkorn, 3/23).

Politico: On Congress: Scott Brown Opposed To Defunding Planned Parenthood
Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) said Tuesday that he opposes House GOP efforts to choke off funding for Planned Parenthood as part of the ongoing budget negotiations between the two chambers (Raju, 3/22).

The New York Times: Women Seeking Abortions In South Dakota To Get Anti-Abortion Advice
A law signed by Gov. Dennis Daugaard on Tuesday makes the state the first to require women who are seeking abortions to first attend a consultation at such "pregnancy help centers," to learn what assistance is available "to help the mother keep and care for her child" (Sulzberger, 3/22).

Los Angeles Times: Bill To Tighten Hospital Security Clears California Legislative Panel
A California legislative committee gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a bill that would tighten security at hospitals and increase their requirements for reporting violent acts to the state (Garrison, 3/23).