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Health Care Reform
The debate over health care reform in the United States is raging, stretching the envelope of acceptable political discourse. What are the pros and what are the cons? Find out what official sources, analysts, and proponents and opponents of health care reform have to say.
The Legislative Proposal
H.R. 3200: Information on the bill itself and the positions of both parties
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H.R. 3200: America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009
The full text of H.R. 3200 introduced in House of Representatives - Senate Finance Committee Version: America's Healthy Future Act of 2009
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Open Congress Summary of H.R. 3200
Read the OpenCongress.org summary on H.R. 3200, the House Democrats' big health care reform bill. A more detailed summary of the bill by the House Committee on Education and Labor is linked within the page. -
Private Health Insurance Provisions of H.R. 3200
How will H.R. 3200 affect private health insurance? This Congressional Research Service report examines Division A of H.R. 3200, which among other things looks at reducing the number of people without insurance and restructuring the private health insurance market. -
Health Care Reform: An Introduction
This report from the Congressional Research Service discusses the current health care problems that Americans face, and outlines possible solutions including H.R. 3200. -
GOP.gov: Ten Facts About President Obama's Health Care Proposals
Here you can find ten arguments from the GOP against President Obama's health care reform plan. -
Congressional Budget Office: Health
This page of the Congressional Budget Office's website has information on health care spending and analysis of what President Obama's proposal would mean for the Federal deficit.
Return to the topIn the News
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New York Times: Obama’s Health Care Speech to Congress
The prepared text of President Obama’s speech to Congress on the need to overhaul health care in the United States, as released by the White House on Sept. 9, 2009. -
ABC News: Text of the Republican response to the President's address
Full text of the Republican rebuttal delivered by Rep. Charles Boustany of Louisiana. -
Politico.com: CBO Deals New Blow to Health Plan
This article discusses the news from Congressional Budget Office analysts that President Obama's proposed bill will save only $2 billion over the next ten years. -
Politico.com: CBO Deals Another Blow to House Health Plan
The Congressional Budget Office reveals that the bill will create a $239 billion deficit over the next 10 years. -
Gallup Poll: Healthcare System & Responsibility of Government
Is it the responsibility of the government to provide health care for all? What health care approach is the best? What are the biggest issues in health care today? Look at current and past responses to these Gallup poll questions. -
The Hill: AMA Defends Support of Healthcare Bill
Despite the American Medical Association's endorsement of the healthcare bill, many physicians are in opposition. This article discusses the problems that many doctors believe are still present in the proposal, and also covers the $240 billion in Medicaid payments that doctors would receive if President Obama's bill is passed. -
NPR Special Series: Prescriptions for Change
This is where you'll find recent NPR reports on the issues surrounding healthcare reform.
Advocacy
Information from organizations advocating both for and against President Obama's health care reform proposals.
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HealthReform.gov
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services manages this website. Official information, press releases, and the latest reports can be found here. -
WhiteHouse.gov: Health Insurance Reform Reality Check
The White House's site dedicated to the HR 3200. Find out some facts from the White House on the proposed health care reform bill. -
America's Health Insurance Plans: Health Care Reform
Information on health care reform from a national association that represents nearly 1,300 health insurance providers. Find out information on AHIP's official position on the health care reforms being considered in Congress and their own proposals for affordable and improved health care.-
Campaign for an American Solution: Affordable, High Quality Health Care for Every American
This bi-partisan grassroots campaign from America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) supports policy proposals that would build on the current employer-based system of health care, provide help to working families and small businesses, and guarantee health care coverage for everyone. Their website includes polling data, reports from organizations such as AHIP and the RAND Corporation, and a blog that is updated daily with information about health care reform.
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Campaign for an American Solution: Affordable, High Quality Health Care for Every American
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The American Medical Association: Our Vision for Health Care Reform
The American Medical Association provides information on the proposed health care reform bill, and lists a number of resources for further research. -
Conservatives for Patients' Rights (CPR)
CPR advocates for health care reform that is based on a patient-doctor relationship, with the absence of government involvement. -
FactCheck.org: Seven Falsehoods About Health Care
Seven falsehoods about the healthcare reform bill are debunked by Factcheck.org, a nonpartisan and nonprofit website dedicated to being a "consumer advocate for voters". -
Prescription for Change
Consumer Reports Health hosts this website calling for healthcare reform. The advocacy efforts of this site focus on stories from individuals and opinions on the latest reform proposals. -
U.S. Chamber of Commerce issues page on Health Care reform
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce provides information on the proposed health care reforms and what the changes mean for businesses.
Health Care Around the World
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10 Myths About Canadian Health Care, Busted
The organization Physicians for a National Health Program lists ten common perceptions of Canada's National Health Care system, with arguments against them. -
The Brutal Truth About America's Healthcare
Great Britain's The Independent reports on U.S. Health Care reform, and compares the current U.S. health care system to Great Britain's National Health Service. -
Cato Institute Policy Analysis: The Grass is Not Always Greener: A Look at National Health Care Systems Around the World
This report looks at problems countries around the world face with their health care systems. -
Frontline: Sick Around the World: Health Care Systems-The Four Basic Models
This excerpt from PBS Frontline correspondent T.R. Reid's book The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Healthcare examines the four prevailing models of health care that are used throughout the world.) -
Gallup: Americans, Canadians, Britons Similarly Rate Their Healthcare Systems
In 2005 Gallup polled people in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain to find out opinions on the state of health care in each country. Find the results of that survey here. -
The World Health Report 2008: Primary Health Care: Now More Than Ever
The World Health Organization (WHO) discusses the problems health care systems throughout the world are facing, and provides recommendations for a primary health care system. -
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Sunday Forum: The French and Dutch do health care right
The Dutch and the French organize their health care differently. In the Netherlands, people buy health insurance from competing private carriers; in France, people get basic insurance from nonprofit sickness funds that effectively operate as extensions of the state, then have the option to purchase supplemental insurance on their own.
Selected Books & DVDs
In the televised new on health care, there's little room for content. Get the information at the heart of the debate here!
Uncle Sam's shame : inside our broken Veterans Administration
Read the story of the former Veteran's Affairs physician experience in the broken VA system, what needs to be done to fix it, and why socialized medicine isn't the answer.
Does the United States need a national health insurance policy?
Read short essays on the major points of the issue, including the voices for market based plans, a national health insurance policy, and how to go about saving money.
Medicine : opposing viewpoints
Learn the arguments for and against reforming medical malpractice litigation and the potential impact of universal health care.
Overtreated : why too much medicine is making us sicker and poorer
Journalist Shannon Brownlee shows us how any attempt to rein in the high cost is called out as "rationing", why our care is hugely expensive and how we can cover the uninsured.
America's health care crisis solved : money-saving solutions, coverage for everyone
An in-depth look at Fair Care health financing and why Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are one of the most effective devices for controlling health care spending.
Why our health matters : a vision of medicine that can transform our future
Natural health care guru Dr. Andrew Weil weighs in on the health care debate. He examines the current high cost of health care, and offers ideas for providing all Americans with affordable coverage.
The healing of America : a global quest for better, cheaper, and fairer health care
This book looks at healthcare systems in other countries, and asks why the United States is the only first world country without a system of universal health care. The author admits that universal healthcare systems are not without their problems, but ultimately calls for reform of the American system.
Healthcare, guaranteed : a simple, secure solution for America
The ever-rising price of healthcare is at the center of the healthcare reform debate. This book offers suggestions on how government can get involved, while still allowing for individual choice in care.
Examines evident shortcomings in the American heath care system by which the needs of insured individuals are not being met, often ending in personal ruin.
Frontlilne correspondent T.R. Reid examines first-hand the health care systems of other advanced capitalist democracies, United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, and Taiwan, to see what tried and tested ideas might help reform the United States' broken health care system.
