Health Roundup: Obama to Add GOP Ideas, Medicare Cuts Avoided

Lots of health headlines this morning, most surrounding the Democratic overhaul efforts. Meanwhile, the Senate figured out a way to avoid crimping Medicare payments to doctors.
President Obama kicked things off yesterday by saying he was open to a few cost-saving ideas that Republicans highlighted at last week’s bipartisan health summit. In a letter to congressional leaders, Obama proposed adding four GOP-backed items to the health-care mix that House and Senate Dems now are expected to put to votes later this month.
Republicans weren’t mollified by the presidential gesture, saying adopting a few of their ideas wasn’t enough to rectify the nearly… Continue reading

Obama To Include GOP Ideas In Health Proposal Today

With President Barack Obama’s release today of his latest health reform plan, he hopes to propel the dialogue forward as he also signals willingness to incorporate GOP ideas into his proposal.The Washington Post: The president ”plans to call on Congress to bring the year-long debate to a swift close, and congressional leaders expect him to signal support for a strategy that includes a special budget maneuver known as reconciliation. Under that strategy, the House would adopt the bill the Senate passed on Christmas Eve and approve a separate package of fixes to reflect a compromise worked out between Democrats in the two chambers.” Meanwhile, GOP leaders said “Obama’s… Continue reading

Warren Buffett Supports Senate Bill, Franken And Ryan Pushing Their Health Reform Ideas

Various personalities are weighing in on health legislation. CNBC interviewed billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who “called the nation’s health care spending ‘untenable,’ comparing ‘out of control’ costs to a ‘tapeworm eating at our economic body.’ While he would support the current Senate health care reform bill if pressed, Buffett says he would prefer a ‘Plan C’ that would control costs by changing the financial incentives of the system” (Crippen, 3/1)…

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Obama Says He’s Exploring Ideas Raised By GOP During Health Summit

ABC News Political Punch: In a letter to Congressional leaders President Obama signaled Tuesday afternoon he is “open to several provisions raised by GOP lawmakers during last week’s bipartisan health care reform summit, including medical malpractice reform, combating fraud,” and the removal of a provisions that would have allowed the federal government to pay for Nebraska’s Medicaid expansion and another that would have protected Florida seniors from cuts to the Medicare Advantage program (3/2).
The White House has posted the letter on its web site.

USA Today’s The Oval: The GOP ideas ”include expanding the use of fraud investigators disguised… Continue reading

Warren Buffet Supports Senate Bill, Franken And Ryan Pushing Their Health Reform Ideas

Various personalities are weighing in on health legislation.

CNBC interviewed billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who ”called the nation’s health care spending ‘untenable,’ comparing ‘out of control’ costs to a ‘tapeworm eating at our economic body.’ While he would support the current Senate health care reform bill if pressed, Buffett says he would prefer a ‘Plan C’ that would control costs by changing the financial incentives of the system” (Crippen, 3/1). Reuters: “The world’s second-richest person called on Washington policymakers to adopt fundamental reforms on such costs to address what he called a ‘national emergency.’ He said health care eats up 17… Continue reading

OpEds: GOP Ideas, HSAs, Calls For ‘Yes’ On Health Bill

Hoosiers and Health Savings Accounts The Wall Street Journal It turns out that, when someone is spending his own money alone for routine expenses, he is far more likely to ask the questions he would ask if purchasing any other good or service: “Is there a generic version of that drug?” (Gov. Mitch Daniels, 3/1). On Health Care, The Republicans Poll Advantage The Washington Post [Cost] is an issue on which the public verdict will be crucial…

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Biden: ‘Ready To Listen’ To GOP Health Care Ideas, Republicans Not Convinced

While health reform legislation was eclipsed recently by the jobs bill and the war in Afghanistan on the Sunday morning news shows, Democrats and Republicans still found time to disagree. The Associated Press reports that Vice President Joseph Biden on NBC’s “Meet the Press” said that “the White House is ready and willing to listen to health care ideas from Republicans,” at the Feb. 25 health care summit. “Biden says the keys are to control rising insurance premiums, control government spending on Medicare and Medicare and address insurance coverage issues.” (2/14)Biden, however, declined “to confirm reports that he advised President Barack Obama last January… Continue reading

Democrats’ Ideas To Expand Medicare Raise The Hackles Of Doctors, Hospitals, Insurers

Kaiser Health News staff writers Julie Appleby and Mary Agnes Carey write: “Hospitals, doctors and insurers lined up in opposition Tuesday to allowing people under 65 to join Medicare – an idea being debated as Senate negotiators struggle to put together the 60 votes needed to pass sprawling health care legislation” (12/9). Read entire story. This information was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation…

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Holiday Gift: DIY – 8 Homemade Gifts Ideas Anyone Can Master

Every year we go through the same old gift giving process of finding that perfect something for friends and family…It’s definitely a challenge depending on the person and gets expensive when you start adding up the list of people that you can’t skip out on. So why not make some yourself? Get creative with these DIYs for the holidays!
Peppermint Bark
A step up from the normal candy cane!
Supplies:
12 oz. quality white chocolate, finely chopped
30 red-and-white-striped hard peppermint candies, coarsely crushed (about 6 ounces)
12 oz. bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup whipping cream
1 tsp. peppermint extract
Measuring cups, 
rubber spatula… Continue reading

Style Tips: A Holiday Look Straight From the Runway

If you’re experiencing anxiety over what to wear to that upcoming holiday fete, take a hint from Derek Lam’s fall 2009 collection. Instead of breaking the bank over a head-to-toe sequin frock, this festive sparkly ensemble can be easily recreated by pairing separates you already own (like that sequin tee you’ve been waiting to wear) with a few additional affordable pieces. Known for his easy to wear but luxurious-looking all-American sportswear, one thing Lam knows how to do right is to make a woman look downright sexy. And we wouldn’t mind getting a little bit of his magic touch… Continue reading