Complaints about health insurance are the biggest part of complaints filed so far this year with the state insurance department.

The seven-term congressman is leading Republican efforts in Congress to stave off the far-reaching changes in national health care policy that President Barack Obama and Democrats have in mind.

Two Missouri universities are hoping plans for a new medical school program will provide trained professionals to relieve the physician shortage in the southern half of the state.

The Obama administration and major hospital associations on Monday evening were nearing a deal for about $150 billion in cost savings to help pay for an overhaul of the nation's health care system.

It is more important that health care legislation inject stiff competition among insurance plans than it is for Congress to create a pure government-run option, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said Monday.

As President Obama and Congress try to overhaul health care, almost every American has a stake. Will you get the care you need? Can you avoid financial ruin?

The latest news is available at
www.CoverMissouri.org

As health care reform discussions intensify and legislation is being prepared for debate, Cover Missouri is increasing the number of bulletins distributed for the next few weeks and making regular updates to www.covermissouri.org to keep you informed.

A new survey of small businesses in Missouri by Small Business Majority, a national small business advocacy organization focused on health care reform, was released today.

The survey found that affordability is the primary obstacle for small-business owners in obtaining health insurance. Results include:

• 89 percent of Missouri small businesses not offering health insurance say it is due to cost;
  
  
• 72 percent of those who do offer health coverage are struggling to provide it; and
  
  
• 69 percent of Missouri small-business people support having the option of a private or public health insurance plan as part of health care reform.

Small business owners also see the cost of health insurance as a significant barrier to entrepreneurship and report reform is important in helping the economy recover. They also believe individuals, employers, insurers, the government, and health care providers should share the responsibility for making coverage more affordable.

“Business owners in our state need to talk to their legislators about the importance of guaranteed affordable choice in health insurance. They must tell lawmakers about the problems they have faced obtaining coverage and care, and let them know where improvement is needed,” said Dr. James R. Kimmey, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Missouri Foundation for Health, which funded Small Business Majority’s study in Missouri.

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