Healthcare Reform

Most Want Health Reform But Fear Its Side Effects Washington Post — A majority of Americans see government action as critical to controlling runaway health-care costs, but there is broad public anxiety about the potential impact of reform legislation and conflicting views about the types of fixes being proposed on Capitol Hill, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. Most respondents are "very concerned" that health-care reform would lead to higher costs, lower quality, fewer choices, a bigger deficit, diminished insurance coverage and more government bureaucracy. About six in 10 are at least somewhat worried about all of these factors, underscoring the challenges for lawmakers as they attempt to restructure the nation's $2.3 trillion health-care system. click to read complete article

GOP Senator Pushes for Alternative Government-Funded 'Voucher' Health Care System Fox News — As President Obama presses for swift passage of a health care reform bill, one Republican senator is pushing for an alternative proposal he claims will insure more Americans at half the time and cost. < South Carolina Sen. JimDeMint is expected to discuss his "Health Care Freedom Plan" on Capitol Hill Wednesday as a counteroffensive to the president's measure -- a plan DeMint claims will limit Americans' choices and ration their care. click to read complete article

Republicans raise $100K to counter government-run health insurance Healthcare Finance News — Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele thanked grassroots Republicans in an e-mail Wednesday for helping the RNC raise more than $100,000 to advertise against "government-run healthcare." The rally for funding came last week as Republicans vowed to fight what they consider unfair treatment by the media. GOP officials say they fear ABC's Wednesday night broadcast from the White House will skew the news to promote the Democrats' plan for health reform. click to read complete article