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16 Feb 2012 12:28

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Politics, U.S.: Obama’s health care plan benefited tens of millions in 2011

  • 54 million people benefited from the Affordable Care Act in 2011 source
  • » Approximately one-sixth of Americans received one or more additional preventive care services in 2011, as a direct result of the Affordable Care Act, according to a newly released report from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Over 20 million adult women received an additional service, as well as 14 million children, and just under 20 million adult men. Of the 50 states, Wyoming had the fewest patients (102,000) receive a new service while California took the cake with more than 6 million patients, over 2 million more than 2nd place Texas, receiving at least one new preventive service last year.
Posted by Scott Craft • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 Dec 2011 21:28

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Politics: Democratic senators call out Obama’s HHS Secretary on birth control

  • We ask that you share with us your specific rationale and the scientific data you relied on for the decision to overrule the FDA recommendation [to increase access to Plan B].
  • Fourteen Democratic Senators • In a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, who last week overruled an FDA recommendation that Plan B, the emergency contraception, be available without prescription to minors. In the words of Greg Sargent, who reported the story, “it isn’t every day that 14 Senators aggressively call out their own party’s Health and Human Services Secretary.” Then again, a lot of Senate Democrats are up for re-election next year, so there is an element of realpolitik at play.  source
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

09 Jan 2011 11:56

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U.S.: U.S. Government: Kids are getting way too much fluoride

  • » Sound weird, guys? Well yeah. Part of this is due to the level of fluoride in the water. Some areas have naturally-occurring high levels, while the government generally recommends utilities add a certain amount to drinking water. Now, Health and Human Services is suggesting lower levels, because many children are getting too much of it – especially in areas with naturally-occurring high levels. Hear that sound? That’s the crinkling of some weird guy’s tinfoil hat.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink

23 Apr 2010 10:50

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Biz, U.S.: Washington hawking over WellPoint’s crappy insurance practices

  • As you know, the practice described in this article will soon be illegal. The Affordable Care Act specifically prohibits insurance companies from rescinding policies, except in cases of fraud or intentional misrepresentation of material fact.
  • Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius • In a letter to health insurer WellPoint regarding a Reuters article that ran yesterday. The article suggested that breast cancer patients were specifically targeted in investigations in an effort to find a way to cancel their insurance. This crappy practice, by the way, is banned in the new health care law, but experts say the bill lacks the teeth to actually stop it. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

27 Feb 2009 14:58

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U.S.: Bush’s abortion “conscience” rules? Obama’s throwing ’em out.

  • We’ve been concerned that the way the Bush rule is written it could make it harder for women to get the care they need.
  • A Health and Human Services official • on reversing the policy, which was implemented in December. The administration wants to take the concerns of doctors with moral disagreements into consideration, but in the form of tightly-written regulations. They thought Bush’s rules were too vague. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 4 Comments • Permalink

03 Feb 2009 23:03

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U.S.: Obama ditches Tom Daschle – AND he takes the blame

  • Did I screw up in this situation? Absolutely. I’m willing to take my lumps.
  • Barack Obama • in an interview with NBC’s Brian Williams, on that Tom Daschle guy, who had to pay a ton in back taxes recently – a fact that came out when he was being vetted for Secretary of Health and Human Services • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Feb 2009 09:24

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U.S.: Tom Daschle + back taxes = the inevitable apology to Congress

  • I apologize for the errors and profoundly regret that you have had to devote time to them.
  • Tom Daschle • the former Senate Majority Leader who is nominated for secretary of Health and Human Services, on having to pay $128,000 in back taxes. He wrote this in a letter to the Senate Finance Committee, who has yet to approve him. *forehead slap* • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
 
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