missouri news

Southeast Missourian: McCaskill holds forum on health care reform in Poplar Bluff, 8/11/09
The government is not going to take over the health-care system, and it will not tell the elderly what treatment they can receive, benefit illegal aliens or pay for abortions, Sen. Claire McCaskill said Monday.

St. Louis Beacon: What area members of Congress say about health reform, 8/9/09
As the debate over health care heats up, the Beacon asked area members of the House and Senate where they stand at this time.

Carthage Press: Blunt, business leaders discuss health care reform, 8/7/09
With health care reform dominating the national conversation, U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt came to Southwest Missouri on Thursday to lay out his position to his constituents.

national news

Kaiser Health News: For major health industry players, reform's positives outweigh negatives, 8/11/09
When Congress and the White House began talking about a health care overhaul, the industries that profit from the $2.5 trillion system were understandably nervous.

Los Angeles Times: Sorting out claims about health care legislation, 8/10/09
With lawmakers home for their August recess, a fierce battle has broken out over what precisely is in the mammoth health care bills being pushed by congressional Democrats.

New York Times: A primer on the details of health care reform, 8/10/09
Each side hopes to win ground by boiling down one of the most complex policy discussions in history into digestible nuggets. For beachside viewers who might be more interested in iced-tea service than fee-for-service, here is a guide to the main fight points.

NPR: Mass medical clinic's sobering message, 8/9/09
For 2 1/2 days, about 800 doctors, nurses, dentists, and optometrists treated 2,700 uninsured and underinsured people, most from Appalachia. No one was asked for an insurance card. There were no copays. And there were no bills.

Washington Post: Senate health care negotiators hope to keep deal alive during break, 8/7/09
Senators headed home for their August break amid an escalating partisan battle over health care reform, with a small band of lawmakers hoping to keep their delicately negotiated compromise alive.

The latest news is available at
www.CoverMissouri.org

cover missouri feature

A Frank Discussion on Health Care Reform
Part I - What are we really talking about?

People are talking about health care reform across the country. With all the facts and figures being used by various groups, confusion is bound to arise. This Cover Missouri Bulletin is intended to clarify misinformation about health care reform.

What type of health reform is being discussed?
The bills currently being drafted by Congress are focused on health insurance reform. These reforms include measures to keep insurance companies from limiting or denying coverage on the basis of age, gender, or pre-existing conditions.

Will I lose my coverage and be forced into a government plan?
The current proposals do not end employer-sponsored insurance or require you to participate in a government-funded insurance plan. The proposals under consideration aim to build on the strengths of the current system and address some of its weaknesses, including:

Making health insurance affordable through subsidies or tax credits to individuals and small businesses to buy coverage;
Providing choices for comprehensive health coverage through a health insurance exchange; and
Ensuring that all Americans are able to obtain health coverage and are not denied on the basis of existing health conditions.

How can I learn more?
You can read the fact sheet Frequently Asked Questions about U.S. Health System Reform, which provides a basic overview of health reform issues.

The Glossary of Key Health Reform Terms produced by the non-partisan Kaiser Family Foundation can help you understand terms being used.

You can read drafts of the health care bills at House Committee on Ways and Means and Senate Committee on Health Education Labor and Pensions; or you can read Side by Side Comparison of Health Care Reform Proposals, a tool that allows you to compare features of the different proposals.

Next week: Where health reform bills are in the legislative process

Cover Missouri is a project of the Missouri Foundation for Health. Learn more here.