Max Baucus

Top Story

Senate Finance Committee tackles revised health care reform plan – MedCity Morning Read, Sept. 23, 2009

The Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday began its work on a revised version of the health care reform bill proposed last week by its chairman. Sen. Max Baucus, a Montana Democrat, said in a statement that he modified his proposal to incorporate ideas from both Democrats and Republicans, to make it more affordable for low- and middle-income Americans and to ensure it reduces the federal deficit.

presented by
Top Story

Obama ‘open to new ideas,’ committed to moving forward with health-care reform – MedCity Morning Read, Sept. 9, 2009

President Barack Obama told ABC News that the speech he is scheduled to deliver tonight will offer "a lot of clarity" about his vision for health-care reform. While noting that "we do intend to get something done this year," Obama said that his administration is "open to new ideas." The president is expected to address a joint session of Congress at 8 p.m.

News

As Obama’s speech to Congress approaches, details of compromise — MedCity Morning Read, Sept. 8, 2009

As President Obama prepared Monday for his speech to Congress on health care reform, some details leaked out about fees and coverage limits under a proposal being floated by the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. The proposal from Sen. Max Baucus, a Montana Democrat, would impose new fees on some sectors of the health care industry -- but none on individuals -- to offset initial costs estimated at $880 billion over 10 years.

News

Battle over health care paralyzed with anticipation — MedCity Morning Read, July 28, 2009

The nation's battle over health care reform -- taking place mostly in Congressional meeting rooms, these days -- is largely paralyzed with anticipation as everyone waits for bipartisan legislation from the Senate Finance Committee. That legislation might give President Obama an uncomfortable choice: Back the bipartisan deal or back the deals by rank-and-file Democrats who want a bill that more closely reflects their liberal leanings.

News

Senate negotiators close in on $1 trillion health care reform bill — MedCity Morning Read, June 26, 2009

Senate negotiators said Thursday they are close to finalizing a $1 trillion health-care reform bill that would be fully funded by tax increases, Medicare cuts and new penalties for employers that don't offer health benefits. The Senate committee will consider financing and policy issues over the Fourth of July recess with the goal of producing a 10-year bill that doesn't add to the national deficit shortly after Congress returns July 6.

News

Senators worry government health plan could hasten end of employer coverage — MedCity Morning Read, June 25, 2009

the latest struggle of Senate leaders trying to craft health care reform is whether subsidizing millions of people to join a proposed government-sponsored health plan would speed the erosion of insurance provided by employers -- which the senators want to preserve. Under his proposed Health Insurance Exchange, the public option would be "one option among multiple options," Obama counters.

MedCity Influencers

The $400 billion question

Dr. Westby Fisher predicts that every dollar cut from the federal health-care budget "will be one less to trickle down to the people receiving the care." He says: "This is no surprise to me, but we must realize that everyone of us are having compromises to care imposed upon us when the pencil sharpeners come out and $400 billion are magically shaved from the health care delivery budget."