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Health Reform Round Two: Cost Containment

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget reiterated an important point that can not be understated: Health Care Reform is a Continuous Process and Will Require Continued Vigilance from Policymakers. The legislation passed last week will eventually secure the long-sought goal of near-universal coverage, the moral imperative that was arguably… more

A New Law, A New Blog

In the wake of successful passage of the most comprehensive federal health legislation since Medicare, the focus now comes back to the states for effective implementation. California is in the midst of an unprecedented fiscal crisis, and many state health programs face an uncertain future. For California’s uninsured population and… more

17 Public Hospitals’ DSRIP Plans Released

Among its many benefits, the new 1115 waiver allows California’s 17 public hospitals to draw down as much as $3.3 billion in federal match over the next five years through the Delivery System Reform Incentive Pool (DSRIP). The monies will be used to support these hospitals’ efforts to enhance quality… more

The Final Chapter (but not really)

At 2:35am ET, Republican points of order persuaded the Senate Parliamentarian to strike 16 lines from the Reconciliation Act that deal with technical aspects of federal Pell (education) grants. This afternoon, the Senate ended the amendment process and voted in favor of the Reconciliation Act 56-43. The changes mean the… more

Reconciliation: Happening Now!

Today, the Senate takes up amendments on H.R. 4872, The Health Care & Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010, with a final vote as early as tomorrow preceding the President’s signature. If even one word were changed, the bill would have to go back to the House for an additional… more

The Bill is Law…So What’s In It?

The sheer complexity of the health reform bill Law can make it a bit daunting to understand all the benefits. The major pillars of the Law (the individual mandate, health insurance exchanges, Medicaid expansion, and insurance subsidies) don’t activate for a number of years, but there are numerous provisions that… more

Happy First Birthday Health Reform!

On this, the first anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, we at ITUP want to sincerely thank the President and members of Congress for their courage and wisdom in passing this vital legislation to extend basic health coverage to every American citizen. We also want to thank and acknowledge the… more

History.

Yesterday, the House passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act by a 219-212 vote, to be signed into law tomorrow. The landmark legislation establishes a fundamental social precedent, putting our country on the path toward a healthier future for all Americans. After nearly 100 years of debate, we finally… more

Reporting on Health Care Quality and Satisfaction

[The following post was written by Erica Brode, ITUP intern.] On March 10th, California’s Office of the Patient Advocate (OPA) released its 2011 Health Care Quality Report Card, analyzing quality and patient satisfaction measures for 9 HMOs, 6 PPOs, and 225 medical groups. In many ways, the report shines a… more

Reconciliation Bill and CBO Score, at Last

Reconciliation Bill (Legislative Text) Reconciliation Bill (Section-by-Section Summary) CBO Score (pdf) CBO Score (blog) You can now start the 72 hour clock for public viewing before the likely vote in the House on Sunday. Reports indicate that leadership is within 5 votes of passage. Also, head here to see a… more