NEWS

Congress opens probe into Anthem Blue Cross rate increases - LA Times

Two House panels announce they are investigating the hikes, which take effect March 1. Lawmakers ask the company’s CEO to explain the reasons for the increases.

How Health Overhaul Would Affect The Uninsured – Kaiser Health News

As Democrats have pushed for a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s health system, much of their plans and rhetoric have focused on providing coverage for America’s uninsured.

Poll: Bipartisanship popular, compromise tricky – Washington Post

Americans spread the blame when it comes to the lack of cooperation in Washington, and, in a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, most want the two sides to keep working to pass comprehensive health-care reform.

President Obama to GOP: Work with me – Politico

President Barack Obama said Tuesday he’s prepared to cut deals with Republicans in order to create jobs and improve the nation’s health care system, but he said he’s seen few signs so far that the GOP is willing to support any of his policy initiatives.

Reps. Boehner & Cantor Falsely Claim Health Care Bills Would Kills Jobs - Media Matters

On February 8, 2010, House Minority Leader John Boehner and House Minority Whip Eric Cantor wrote a letter to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel falsely claiming current health care reform legislation would kill jobs. In reality, the bills in front of Congress could create up to 400,000 jobs.

OPINION

Obama’s health-care summit: Chicken soup for the legislative soul – Washington Post

I’ve been trying, because I’d truly like to see health reform pass, to find something nice to say about President Obama’s plans for a summit. Another summit, that is, nearly a year after the first one. Here’s the best I could come up with: It can’t hurt. Consider it Chicken Soup for the Legislative Soul.

Ten GOP Health Ideas for Obama – Newt Gingrich and John Goodman

‘If you have a better idea, show it to me." That was President Barack Obama’s challenge two weeks ago to House Republicans regarding health-care reform. He has since called for a bipartisan forum, not to start over on health reform but to "move forward" on the "best ideas that are out there."

Sticker Shock - Jon Cohn

When it comes to health care reform, many Americans are still asking: What’s in it for me? They should put that question to Californians who have individual insurance coverage from Anthem Blue Cross–and just learned their premiums will be going up by almost 40 percent this year.

Obama Hopes To ‘Establish Common Facts’ With GOP On Health Reform, Hints At Tort Reform Concessions – Think Progress

President Barack Obama hinted that he may incorporate some Republican tort reform proposals into the existing health care reform legislation, but warned that “bipartisanship cannot mean simply that Democrats give up everything they believe in, find the handful of things Republicans have been advocating for and then we do those things.” “There’s gotta be some give and take..and that’s what I hope is accomplished,” Obama said of the forthcoming February 25th health summit.

GOP ideas already in health care bill - Cynthia Tucker

Americans want Congress to pass comprehensive health care reform, according to a new Washington Post-ABC news poll. And they want a bi-partisan effort.

(compiled for Health Care for America Now)