Healthcare Big First Vote Saturday Nov 21, 2009
According to the Congressional Budget Office, those hardest hit will be low-income enrollees in Medicare Advantage who will lose up to half of their coverage for things like vision care, dental coverage and flu shots -- especially those who cannot afford expensive Medi-gap coverage. And, of course, Harrycare does not include the $210 billion dollar doc fix that seeks to make up for the current underpayment of doctors in the Medicare system that the House passed as a separate piece of legislation... (Human Events Online)
Initial Senate vote looms on health legislation Nov 21, 2009
What does the CBO have to do with anything other than its Director, Douglas Elmendorf, having stated that Obama's health care plan will cost more than it saves ... I'm well aware that the CBO isn't one person ... I am aware, however, that the Director of the CBO is appointed by the President---who happens to be a Democrat. (Montana Standard, MT)
House moves to protect doctors from Medicare cuts Nov 21, 2009
Although House Democrats have vowed not to pass legislation that's not paid for, the doctor payment bill is one of several items they've exempted from that rule, and the Congressional Budget Office says it would increase the deficit by $210 billion over 10 years. Republicans devoted much of Thursday's debate to complaining about that, but Democrats said it was Republicans' fault for setting up the problematic payment formula in the first place. (KGW Northwest NewsChannel 8, OR -- Business)
Senate vote next step on health bill road Nov 21, 2009
The House bill, projected to guarantee coverage for 96 percent of Americans, will cost more than $1 trillion over the next 10 years, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The Senate bill, estimated to cover 94 percent of Americans, comes with an $848 billion price tag, according to the CBO.. (CNN)
Sen. Wyden wins big healthcare concession Nov 21, 2009
Wyden wins big healthcare concession - The Hill's Blog Briefing Room. Saturday, November 21, 2009. (TheHill.com)
What to expect in Saturday health care vote Nov 21, 2009
Video: CBO: Health care to cost $849B. Video: Health care bill 'saves money. (CNN -- Health)
Senate Democrats move on crucial health vote Nov 21, 2009
But the section s purpose is indisputable: According to the Congressional Budget Office, it will send an additional $100 million to Louisiana to help it cover costs for Medicaid, the federal-state health care program for the poor. Lincoln has been the most close-mouthed about her intentions. (Boston Globe)
Georgia cant afford its share of ObamaCare Nov 21, 2009
As things stand, the Congressional Budget Office that the House bill would cost state governments $34 billion in new Medicaid and State Childrens Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) spending (see footnote c on page 12 of the linked PDF). All in all, this presents a significant, perhaps impossible, challenge for Georgia. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Opinion)
Political Grapevine Nov 21, 2009
The Congressional Budget Office says the cost of the Louisiana subsidies in the bill totals $100 million. Landrieu's spokesman says of the aid: "It's something she has been working on for a long time.". (Fox News)
A Better Health Bill From The Senate? Nov 20, 2009
But the significantly expands access to medical care for Americans who currently lack coverage, contains a modest public option, bars discrimination by insurers against Americans with pre-existing medical conditions and gets remarkably good marks from the Congressional Budget Office. In many respects, Reid's "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" is a better bill than the House measure. (CBS News)
The $100 Million Vote: What Does It Take to Woo Skeptical Democrats? Nov 20, 2009
The plan would cut the by $130 billion in its first decade, more than any other bill, according to estimates by the non-partisan CBO. It would cut the budget by as much as $650 billion in the second decade. Ninety-four percent of Americans would have insurance under the legislation, which would be paid for with a menu of taxes on the wealthy and on high-cost, all-inclusive insurance plans that some people say drive up overall health care costs, and a new five percent tax on elective surgery. (ABC News)
They were wrong about Medicare, too Nov 20, 2009
According to the bipartisan Congressional Budget Office report today, the Senate bill would INCREASE, not lower costs, & premiums would be HIGHER, not lower. The only goal it accomplishes is covering more people. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Opinion)
Fighting coercion clause Nov 20, 2009
In 1994, the Congressional Budget Office said forcing individuals to buy insurance would be "an unprecedented form of federal action," adding: "The government has never required people to buy any good or service as a condition of lawful residence in the United States.". 1. (Albany Times Union)
Budget office gives a nod to health plan Nov 20, 2009
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said that Majority Leader Harry Reid's 10-year, $848-billion bill would produce a net reduction of $130 billion in federal deficits in its first decade. Perhaps more significantly, the legislation would continue to give back over the next 10 years and beyond, the budget umpires said, because "added revenues and cost savings would probably be greater" than the cost of covering uninsured Americans. (Athens Banner-Herald)
Show Transcript: November 20 Nov 20, 2009
But what's new here is that, according to the Congressional Budget Office, more than half of that debt -- $4. 8 trillion --would be in interest. (CNN -- US)
RedState Morning Briefing Nov 20, 2009
Roll Call we learn that one Senate Democratic leadership staffer acknowledged that the cost estimate did not even represent an official preliminary score from the CBO but was a representation of preliminary feedback that Reid has gotten from the nonpartisan Congressional agency. In other words, we do not know how much it will actually cost. (Human Events Online)
House votes to ease Medicare cuts to doctors Nov 20, 2009
Although House Democrats have vowed not to pass legislation that s not paid for, the doctor payment bill is one of several items they have exempted from that rule, and the Congressional Budget Office says it would increase the deficit by $210 billion over 10 years. Republicans devoted much of yesterday s debate to complaining about that, but Democrats said it was Republicans fault for setting up the problematic payment formula in the first place. (Boston Globe)
How the Senate's Health Care Bill Is Worse Than the House's Nov 20, 2009
As with the House bill, CBO concluded that this prohibition would cause public-option premiums to be a little higher than premiums for private insurance plans available through the newly created exchanges ... the economist who dreamed up this "level playing field" variation on the public option, says CBO's wrongthe public option won't charge higher premiums because it will match its private competitors in various cost-control methods, including those meant to limit the proportion of sick... (Slate)
Use accurate statistics Nov 20, 2009
A study by Dr. June ONeill, who served as director of the Congressional Budget Office from 1995-1999, shows that nearly half of those uninsured Americans could likely afford to purchase health coverage. The average voluntarily 00004000 uninsured household makes $65,000 per year. (Fresno Bee -- Opinion)
Time running out for comprehensive health care reform Nov 20, 2009
According to the Congressional Budget Office, they will both slightly reduce the national deficit over the next 10 years and, with luck, pay for themselves. Both bills would offer health care to more than 95 percent of Americans not already on Medicare. (Grants Cibola County Beacon, NM)
Senate Health-Care Bill Estimated to Cost $849 B Nov 20, 2009
The estimates, from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, also showed that the bill would reduce the number of uninsured people in the U.S. by 31 million people. The result, they said, would be that 94% of Americans would have health insurance coverage. (SmartMoney)
$100 Million Payoff to Buy Sen. Landrieu's Vote... Nov 20, 2009
According to the Congressional Budget Office: $100 million. Heres the incredibly complicated language. (The Drudge Report)
Projections of savings from health IT are baseless, Harvard researchers say Nov 20, 2009
Himmelstein said a report from the Congressional Budget Office in 2008 signed by Peter Orszag, now Obama's budget director, expressed skepticism about claims by the RAND Corp. and others that health IT could generate $80 billion annually in savings. "Part of the CBO's skepticism was based on the limited information available to the RAND study and similar studies," Himmelstein said. (EurekAlert!)
Previous health care column exaggerates health care proposal Nov 20, 2009
Frankly, even in this economy, we can afford to pay a tiny bit more, especially since the Congressional Budget Office estimates that the health care bill will not increase deficit spending. A small tax increase like this one could easily help the long and difficult process of paying off the national debt, provided that spending does not continue to outpace taxes. (Daily Orange, NY)
'Bo-Tax' for Health-Care Reform? Nov 20, 2009
The tax is just one of many ways the Senate bill aims to raise $6 billion to help pay for the $848 billion plan, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates would lower federal deficits by $130 billion over 10 years. The tax in the Senate would apply only to surgical procedures that qualify as "not necessary to ameliorate a deformity arising from, or directly related to, a congenital abnormality, a personal injury resulting from an accident or trauma, or disfiguring disease." Doctors and... (BusinessWeek)
Health Care: How Obama is Shoring Up Senate Support Nov 20, 2009
Members of the team also said it is important to frame the message carefully emphasizing, for instance, estimates by the Congressional Budget Office that the health overhaul will save money in the long run, reassuring seniors who are afraid of seeing Medicare cut and stressing new provisions like ones that would protect people from becoming uninsurable as a result of pre-existing health conditions. But the Republicans are readying their message as well. (Time.com)
Rationing's First Step Nov 20, 2009
The Congressional Budget Office has been busy pricing these various bills, a process that includes screening and prevention. As we have warned, the growing emphasis seems to be on cost containment rather than quality of care. (Investors Business Daily)
America's fiscal deficit: Stemming the tide Nov 20, 2009
Early last year the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) thought federal debt held by the public, then about 40% of GDP, would fall to 28% in a decade s time. It now sees it reaching 82. (The Economist)
Health Rx Math: Heroic Efforts, Upfront Fees Nov 20, 2009
While that is technically true, the Congressional Budget Office score reveals that the actual savings would smaller, minuscule compared to the fiscal gap. More importantly, CBO's analysis drives home just how difficult it will be to find big health care savings if Reid's $900 billion-plus bill passes and, perhaps, even if it doesn't. (Investors Business Daily)
Doc Fix or Doc Tricks? Nov 20, 2009
By separating off doc fix, they can maintain that Obamacare is budget neutral, because thats the way it was scored by the Congressional Budget Office. They cant maintain the bills budget-neutrality after a doc fix is added into the mix. (Townhall.com)
Legislators should give more consideration to Wyden-Bennett health plan Nov 20, 2009
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and Joint Committee on Taxation have evaluated the plan and both concluded that it would be revenue neutral within two years of becoming fully operational and eventually generate budget surpluses. A review of the Healthy Americans Act by the Lewin Group, a Virginia-based health-care consulting group, found that it could reduce the current health-care costs of private employers by nearly three-quarters. (Longview Daily News, WA)
Senate passes benefits for vets' caregivers Nov 20, 2009
The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would cost $3. 9 billion over the first five years, most of it to pay for the new caregiver benefits. (KGW Northwest NewsChannel 8, OR -- Business)
Senate awaits test vote on health-care overhaul Nov 20, 2009
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that 94 percent of the public would obtain coverage by 2019, up from the current 83 percent. The insurance exchanges would not be implemented until 2014. (AZCentral -- News)
Poll: Most support curbs on malpractice suits Nov 20, 2009
Limits on jury awards in malpractice cases could reduce the federal deficit by $54 billion over 10 years, says the Congressional Budget Office, because doctors caring for Medicare and Medicaid patients would order up fewer tests to guard against being sued. "In this country, there are just too many people who are just out for a quick buck," said Christine Vasquez, 67, a retiree from Clarkston, Mich. (MSNBC -- Politics)
Senate girds for Saturday vote, long battle on health care Nov 20, 2009
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that 94 percent of the public would obtain coverage by 2019, up from the current 83 percent. Insurers would have to accept all applicants and couldn't deny coverage because of pre-existing conditions. (Fresno Bee -- Local)
GOP blasts bait and switch bill Nov 20, 2009
Officially, the Congressional Budget Office said the measure would reduce deficits by $130 billion over the next decade with probable small reductions in the 10 years that follow forecasts that cheered rank-and-file Democrats. Among the cost-cutting provisions would be creation of an Independent Medicare Advisory Board which could be required to recommend steps limiting the growth of the program that provides health care to millions of seniors. (MSNBC -- Politics)
74 comments Nov 20, 2009
There are reportedly four Democrat senators who actually want to be able to read the bill and see the CBO cost analysis before voting to proceed: Ben Nelson (D-Neb. Mary Landrieu (D-La. (Human Events Online)
Senate Dems to make gov't plan widely available Nov 20, 2009
The Congressional Budget Office said Thursday that about two-thirds of the U.S. population would have a public plan available in their state, even though the Democrats' 10-year, $848-billion bill would allow states to opt out. Wide availability doesn't mean the government plan would dominate the market, however. (KGW Northwest NewsChannel 8, OR -- Business)
Health care's 'public option' would cover little of population Nov 20, 2009
The public plan included in the House bill would cover 6 million people, the Congressional Budget Office predicted. The analysis predicted that the public plan would attract less healthy patients and that its average premiums would be "somewhat higher" than private plans. (USA Today -- News)
Bill would cause increase in Medicare premiums Nov 20, 2009
According to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office, the legislation expected on the House floor this week would raise fees for doctors treating Medicare patients by 194. 6 billion over a decade. (Coos Bay-North Bend The World, OR)
Health Care Battle Begins in Senate Nov 20, 2009
Harry Reid, the majority leader from Nevada, has a $848 billion price tag and claims to cover an additional 31 million Americans, although the Congressional Budget Office contends that 24 million one-third of them illegal immigrants will still be uninsured by 2019. The Senate bill also includes a public option to compete against private insurers. (Nebraska Statepaper)
U.S. House Passes Measure to Avert Cuts in Medicare Payments to Doctors Nov 20, 2009
While the House health-care plan is estimated to cut the deficit by $109 billion over the next 10 years, combining it with the Medicare payment change would raise the deficit by $89 billion over 10 years, said a released yesterday by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Theyre trying to pass this health-care bill and suggest that it doesnt cost anything, said Representative , the top Republican on the Budget Committee. (Bloomberg -- US)
The One Thing Nov 20, 2009
According to CBO Director Douglas Elmendorf: "I concluded the talk by emphasizing that fiscal policy is on an unsustainable path to an extent that cannot be solved by minor tinkering.". None of these people advising the president or writing these bills in Congress, are advocating small changes. (Fox News)
'Rewarding' Terrorists Nov 20, 2009
The Congressional Budget Office estimates Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid's health care bill will cost $849 billion over the next 10 years. Now, according to the CBO, the bill would reduce the deficit by $127 billion the next decade. (Fox News)
Your views: Political trench warfare (Nov. 19) Nov 19, 2009
According to the Congressional Budget Office, not so. In short, the evidence available to date does not make a strong case that restricting malpractice liability would have a significant effect, either positive or negative, on economic efficiency, the CBO stated. (Florida Today)
Reid: Finish line on health care is finally in sight' Nov 19, 2009
The legislation, which the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates should shave $127 billion from the federal deficit over the next 10 years, the biggest projected savings of any major health care bill thus far. It would bar insurers from denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions and set up exchanges, or marketplaces, where consumers could easily compare coverage and rates, and provide federal help for lower-income people to obtain policies. (Fresno Bee -- Local)
Another View: A modest proposal about gun control Nov 19, 2009
Sure, maybe the Congressional Budget Office could overestimate its cost, and some wimpy liberals could file a court challenge, but the Supreme Court would slap it down on a clear 5-to-4 vote. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, here's one issue where you can count on at least a couple of Republican votes. (Hanford Sentinal, CA)
My Own Private Screening Nov 19, 2009
Len Nichols explains why his "level playing field" is misunderstood by the Congressional Budget Office. Timothy Noah | Nov. 17, 2009. (Slate)
Republicans coming out of their caves: Nov 19, 2009
The Congressional Budget Office (non-partisan) scores it as achieving deficit reduction of $109 billion in the first 10 years. When in the majority, health care reform was not mentioned by Republicans; the number of uninsured just increased. (Chetek Alert, WI)
Harry Reid's Strip Tease Nov 19, 2009
The Congressional Budget Office was expected to release its analysis of the bill on Nov. 18, but it's not yet available on , and my attempts to get CBO to tell me when they'll make it public have been unavailing ... Len Nichols explains why his "level playing field" is misunderstood by the Congressional Budget Office. (Slate)
Reid Optimistic on Senate Health Bill Nov 19, 2009
Preliminary , the legislation's official scorekeeper, have indicated that the Senate measure would cost far less than the bill the House approved last week, while lowering the federal deficit further over the long term, said several senior Democratic aides who have reviewed the CBO data. Democrats are hopeful about winning over at least one Republican, Sen. (CBS News -- US)
LETTER: Obama dismantling free-market system Nov 19, 2009
The congressional budget office said the wealthiest Americans got richer due to Bushes tax cuts for them - and the top 1% even more so. "Based on an exhaustive analysis of tax records and census data, the study reinforced the sense that while Mr. Bushs tax cuts reduced rates for people at every income level, they offered the biggest benefits by far to people at the very top especially the top 1 percent of income earners." They went on to say, "Mr. Bush and his Republican allies in Congress want... (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Obama: America's standing restored Nov 19, 2009
Senate Majority Leader Harry , D-Nevada, said Tuesday that he was still waiting for a cost estimate of the legislation from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. That estimate won't be completed until at least Wednesday, a senior Democratic source said. (CNN)
Republicans Oppose Breast Cancer Screening Limits Nov 19, 2009
There are reportedly four Democrat senators who actually want to be able to read the bill and see the CBO cost analysis before voting to proceed: Ben Nelson (D-Neb. Mary Landrieu (D-La. (Human Events Online)
EARLIER THIS MONTH: Historic health care bill passes House Nov 19, 2009
In the bill's most controversial provision, the government would sell insurance, although the Congressional Budget Office forecasts that premiums for it would be more expensive than for policies sold by private companies. Graham said he thinks the government option "will destroy private health care. Nobody in this country in the insurance business can compete with a government-sponsored plan, where the government writes the benefits and politicians will never raise the premiums.". (USA Today)
Senate health bill woos moderates Nov 19, 2009
The bill, the product of a merger of two committee bills, would cost $849 billion over the next decade, according to preliminary estimates from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. A combination of tax hikes, Medicare cuts, and health system reforms would more than offset that amount, ultimately driving the deficit down by $127 billion over the first 10 years and by $650 billion over the next 10 years. (Boston Globe)
Study suggests costs rise under health care bill Nov 19, 2009
The Republican plan Kirk touted is estimated to push down premiums for privately insured people but would reduce the number of uninsured by just 3 million, according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office. The legislation that passed would raise 460 billion over the next decade from a surcharge on incomes over 500,000 for individuals and 1 million for couples. (Jefferson City News Tribune, MO)
Time running out for comprehensive health care reform Nov 19, 2009
According to the Congressional Budget Office, they will both slightly reduce the national deficit over the next 10 years and, with luck, pay for themselves. Both bills would offer health care to more than 95 percent of Americans not already on Medicare. (Grants Cibola County Beacon, NM)
Reid Sets Markers for Historic Health Care Debate Nov 19, 2009
Aides said the mammoth, 2,074-page bill would reduce deficits by $127 billion over a decade and by as much as $650 billion in the 10 years that follow, citing as-yet-unreleased estimates by the Congressional Budget Office. "Tonight begins the last leg of this journey," said Nevada Sen. (ABC News -- Wire)
CBO puts Senate health bill cost at $849 billion Nov 19, 2009
CBO: Senate health plan to cost $849 billion - Health care reform- msnbc ... CBO: Senate health plan to cost $849 billion ... An aide said the CBO also estimated that the bill would achieve cuts of $1 trillion over a decade in projected health care costs. (MSNBC -- Politics)
Fierce debate ahead on Senate health care bill Nov 19, 2009
As rank-and-file Democrats gathered to learn details of the long-awaited bill, the aide also said the Congressional Budget Office had estimated the legislation would reduce federal deficits by a total of $127 billion over that decade. The aide said the budget agency also projected that if enacted, the legislation would leave 94 percent of eligible individuals with coverage. (Athens Banner-Herald)
Reid's Healthcare Plan Totals $849 Billion Nov 19, 2009
As rank-and-file Democrats gathered to learn details of the measure, a senior Democratic leadership aide said the Congressional Budget Office had estimated it would spread coverage to 31 million Americans who currently lack it while still reducing federal deficits by a total of $127 billion over 10 years ... According to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, that House bill, with a price tag of about $1. (Newsmax)
Reich: Public Option Increases Health Costs Nov 19, 2009
And it will mainly attract people who have more expensive medical needs, which is why the Congressional Budget Office decided it would cost more than it would save. . (Newsmax)
Senate Democrats' Health Care Bill Will Cost $849 BillionCongressional Budget Office estimates bill will cut budget deficit by $127B. Nov 19, 2009
Senate Democrats Health Care Bill to Cost $849 Billion, CBO Reports - ABC News ... Even before the CBO announcement and the Democratic caucus this evening, was abuzz with activity and chatter ... CBO's figures come after weeks of silence from the Senate on the health care debate. (ABC News)
'Pink Slip' for Congress Nov 19, 2009
Another one of the things that brought up with one of your colleagues is the Congressional Budget Office that scored Senator Reid's bill, apparently he has not go gotten that score yet. But I would like to have that number right away, too. (Fox News)
