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Democrats
Latest Headlines
Latest Headlines
In close vote, House rejects health spending measure
In a surprise decision, the House of Representatives rejected a health and education spending measure in a close (224-208) vote yesterday. The $142.5 billion plan included $900 million in cuts to healthcare services. Democrats and some Republicans who voted against the bill said they objected to provisions which would have cut funding for the CDC and reduced aid to low income victims of Hurricane Katrina. Some observers see the unwillingness of moderate Republicans to vote …
Editor's Corner
This week may or may not have been a political harbinger for the coming years. Following a disastrous year for the Bush administration, Democrats have been claiming victory following wins in Virginia, New Jersey and California. Meanwhile, voters in California and Washington rejected measures that would have limited the activities (and incomes) of drug companies and trial lawyers. In …
Fla. granted authority for Medicaid changes
The Department of Health and Human Services approved changes to Florida's Medicaid program proposed by Gov. Jeb Bush. Under the plan, which has been harshly criticized by many Democrats, Florida has the authority to limit spending on the benefits each program recipient receives. The approval also allows managed care companies more flexibility in restricting benefits. The spending cap specifically excludes pregnant women and those under the age of 21. The HHS approval gives the state the …
Error in Medicare Part D handbook could cause trouble
An error in the Medicare and You handbook mailed out to millions of Americans may lead some people to apply to prescription drug plans they will be unable to afford. CMS officials sent out a memo detailing the problem yesterday. According to the agency, the handbook erroneously states that low-income beneficiaries will not have to pay any monthly premium. That is only true of some plans, however. Democrats were quick to attack the mistake, calling it more evidence of how …
Crawford resignation prompts call for inquiry
Some Democrats in Washington are calling for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding former FDA Chairman Lester Crawford's abrupt resignation last week. Speculation has centered on the possibility that a potential financial conflict of interest was involved. Yesterday, the ex-chairman denied those reports, telling Forbes that his decision to depart was a result of burnout from the day-to-day stress of managing the agency at a time when it has been under fire over its …
Medicare premium to increase 13% in 2006
As expected, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced an increase in the premium senior citizens will pay for their health care benefits. The basic premium will rise 13 percent to $88.50 a month. The combined premium, including the prescription drug benefit scheduled to go into effect in January, will average $132 a month. The seemingly modest $10-a-month increase is in reality a political hot potato. It's drawing attention both to massive variation in Medicare …
Calif. to delay Medicaid managed care move
Under pressure from Democrats, patient advocates and public hospitals, California will not go ahead with a planned shift of thousands of elderly, blind and disabled Medi-Cal recipients to managed care plans. The failure to meet the deadline will cost the state $98 million in federal funds. California had agreed to the proposal to move patients into the private plan as part of a compromise with the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services. California's decision is likely to be viewed as …
Plan B delayed 'indefinitely'
The FDA Friday announced it will postpone a ruling to approve the Plan B "morning-after" pill for OTC status indefinitely, drawing criticism from Democrats and abortion-rights groups. Officials at the agency are denying charges that its slow review process is politically motivated. Critics say the delay breaks a promise made by Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt that the agency would rule on the issue by September 1. It was that promise that persuaded three key Democrats to …
Controversy over Medicaid HSAs in SC
A good old-fashioned political fight appears to be brewing in South Carolina, where a plan to move more than 80,000 Medicaid recipients to health savings accounts (HSAs) is drawing fire from Democrats and praise from Republicans. The state appears to be the latest flash point in the debate over the use of personal savings accounts by the government. Many conservative healthcare economists argue that the plans are a good way to shift power into the hands of consumers and encourage personal …
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