President Obama’s support for a bill that would let states opt out of national health reform mandates early to come up with their own plans has been described variously as “a bomb,” a “major concession” to reform’s critics, or “calling the Republicans’ bluff.”
But is it any single one of these things? Not so much. Here’s some context and a look at some analysis of Obama’s highly-publicized support for the Wyden-Brown state waiver bill, which he announced to the nation’s state governors on Monday.
Health care reform, and the ideological, political and public health battles that surrounded it, reached a fever pitch in the media by the time the legislation reached the House of Representatives in March. Many members of ReportingonHealth were watching and chronicling these events closely. Here, a cross-section of reporters discusses their experience working on these complex stories.
Here's a recap of the latest developments on the health reform front, along with some helpful resources and story ideas for your community.
March 21, 2010, 10 p.m. PST
One question that’s getting lost in all the chatter after Scott Brown’s historic election and Nancy Pelosi ‘s defeated comments on health reform today is what’s going to happen to the concessions that the insurance and pharmaceutical industries offered last year as serious reform discussions were just getting underway. The Wall St.
UPDATE: 9:54 p.m., Jan. 19
The phrase "stunning upset" doesn't even begin to capture the national political shockwaves as Republican Scott Brown defeats Martha Coakley for the late Sen. Edward Kennedy's seat. The "what happens to health reform now?" political analysis below remains relevant. In the meantime, here's a quick roundup of the latest coverage and analysis:
