The Death of Death Panels

The Rev. Madison Shockley / Truthdig Aug 22, 2009 The demise of the recent “death panels” debate was quick and painless -- unlike so many of the deaths that will occur among those who will now be without the benefit of their doctor’s knowledge of the dying process.The demise of “death panels” was quick and painless -- unlike so many deaths that will occur among those now without the benefit of their doctor's counsel. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

In a Reasoned Debate, Single Payer Will Come Out on Top

By Laura S. Boylan, M.D., and Joanne Landy, M.P.H. Aug 19, 2009 Single-payer advocates have been excluded from debate not because our premises or facts are wrong but because special interests, including the private health insurance industry and the big drug companies, have been allowed to define the limits of "politically feasible." Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Health Bill Survives House Committee Vote

Staff / Truthdig Aug 1, 2009 The good news, at least for those hoping for progress on the health care reform front, is that the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed the latest version of a bill aimed at revamping the nation's flagging health care system. The bad news: Now that Congress is headed for a monthlong vacation, we'll have a whole new round of squabbling to look forward to in September. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Obama on Health Care: ‘We Are Going to Get This Done’

Staff / Truthdig Jul 18, 2009 Despite rumblings from detractors on both sides of the aisle, President Barack Obama held his ground as he held forth about health care reform in a speech at the White House on Friday afternoon, declaring that he was "absolutely convinced" that substantial changes to the system will be made this year. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Health Care: Change the Debate

Dennis Kucinich / Truthdig Jul 15, 2009 In mid-May, President Obama secured a deal with the health insurance companies to trim 1.5 percent of their costs each year for 10 years, saving a total of $2 trillion. Just two days after the announcement at the White House, the insurance companies reneged on the deal that was designed to protect and increase their revenue at least 35 percent. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Senate Reworks Health Care Proposal

Staff / Truthdig Jul 2, 2009 Let's see if this one takes. After critics blasted an earlier, more expensive version, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee took another crack at a plan to provide coverage for tens of millions of Americans without health insurance. The latest plan, released Thursday, comes at the lower cost of $611.4 billion, as opposed to the $1 trillion proposal that didn't go over so well last month. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Obama Gives Health Plan a Town-Hall Pitch

Staff / Truthdig Jul 2, 2009 While Congress was away, President Obama made another play to boost public support of his health care reform plan. It came Wednesday in a town-hall-esque forum in Virginia. Those hoping for the federal government to back a viable single-payer system, however, will have to keep on hoping. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

AMA Lines Up Against Public Health Insurance Plan

Staff / Truthdig Jun 11, 2009 The health care debate takes another turn as the American Medical Association says it will oppose implementation of a government-sponsored medical insurance plan. The AMA's justification for selling out to private insurance companies? A public insurance plan competing with private firms would limit patient choices. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Most Bankruptcies Caused by Medical Bills

Staff / Truthdig Jun 6, 2009 A new study reveals that through-the-roof medical bills are the cause of more than 60 percent of bankruptcies in the U.S. From 2001 to 2007, bankruptcies associated with medical debt increased by 50 percent, and 75 percent of the families surveyed actually had health insurance. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Baucus’ Raucous Caucus

Amy Goodman / Truthdig May 13, 2009 Single-payer advocates have been protesting in Senate Finance Committee hearings, chaired by Democratic Montana Sen. Max Baucus. Last week, at a committee hearing with 15 industry speakers, not one represented the single-payer perspective. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Krugman Is Worried About Europe

Staff / Truthdig Mar 17, 2009 The American economy is certainly a cause for concern at the moment, but Paul Krugman is more troubled by issues abroad, declaring in his New York Times column on Monday that "the situation in Europe worries me even more than the situation in America." Uh-oh. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Welcome Back, Congress

Staff / Truthdig Jan 7, 2009 There were just a few action items -- emphasis on action -- for the 111th Congress to contend with on the broad domestic and global scale as veteran members reconvened and new recruits made it official on Tuesday. Get to work, people. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )