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OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Left stands against raising Medicare age
The big guns are out against raising the Medicare eligibility age.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) penned an op-ed in USA Today reaffirming her opposition to the idea, which is on the table in talks to avoid the "fiscal cliff." And the Center for American Progress came out with a new report finding that the shift could leave as many as 435,000 seniors uninsured. Postponing eligibility for Medicare would also increase seniors'
out-of-pocket costs, raise Medicare premiums and increase healthcare costs
overall, according to the group, which called the proposal a "blunt cut-and-shift" policy.
Both moves come as AARP is continuing to lobby against raising the Medicare age for deficit reduction (see below). "We are prepared to oppose this one pretty strongly," AARP legislative policy director David Certner told The Associated Press. "It's a pretty big deal."
Congressional Democrats are walking a fine line on the idea, which President Obama has supported in the past. Read more about their positioning at Healthwatch.
Hear more about it: AARP will hold a briefing Wednesday on Capitol Hill about the the impact of increasing the Medicare eligibility age, a policy the group opposes. Included in the event will be Henry J. Aaron of the Brookings Institution, David Certner of AARP and Paul Van de Water with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The panel will begin at 2 p.m. in the Capitol Visitor Center, Room SVC 203-02.
AARP was also on Capitol Hill last week advocating against Social Security and Medicare cuts as part of a deficit-reduction package. Read about that push here.
Longer, sicker: People in the United States are living longer but with more chronic illnesses, according to a new report out Tuesday. The 2012 America's Health Rankings used 24 health measures including rates of smoking, crime and premature births to rank states based on overall overall wellness. The report found that about 26 percent of people in the United States lead sedentary lives, 28 percent are obese and 31 percent have high blood pressure.
The top 10 healthiest states were, in order: Vermont, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Connecticut, Utah, New Jersey, Maine and Rhode Island. Read more about the study, which was sponsored by United Health Foundation, the American Public Health Association and the Partnership for Prevention, at USA Today.
Durbin on device tax: Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) repeated his support Tuesday for delaying the healthcare law's medical device tax. Durbin was part of a group of senators that wrote to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Monday asking to keep the tax from taking effect on Jan. 1.
He added that medical device makers have made a stronger case than others facing tax increases under the Affordable Care Act.
Cuts, cuts, cuts: One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC), a new advocacy coalition, warned this week that the sequester would "devastate" federal cancer research efforts. In a memo to reporters, the group estimated that sequester cuts at the National Institutes of Health would reduce cancer research by more than $450 million and result in an estimated 2,300 fewer research grants overall.
"Most troubling is the myriad of exciting opportunities in cancer research that could potentially be lost under this uncertain future," the group wrote. "Today’s progress in research and promising scientific opportunities require a sustained commitment in order for them to bear any fruit that will benefit cancer patients in the future."
OVAC includes the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and Susan G. Komen for the Cure Advocacy Alliance.
Fly-in alert: The American Health Care Association (AHCA) will continue its push against Medicare cuts in the sequester with a Capitol Hill fly-in starting Wednesday. Hundreds of owners, operators and administrators from nursing homes will push lawmakers on therapy caps extensions, Medicaid provider assessments and healthcare cuts in the sequester. States represented will be Utah, Florida, Ohio, Indiana, New York, Maryland, Montana, South Dakota and California. Read past coverage of the AHCA at Healthwatch.
Wednesday's agenda
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will hold a hearing on testing for human growth hormone in the National Football League.
The House Ways and Means subcommittee on Human Resources will hold a hearing on reducing child deaths due to maltreatment.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will hold a news conference on protecting Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and veterans benefits. Members of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare will be present.
The Campaign to End Obesity will hold a workshop for congressional staff in identifying policy solutions for addressing U.S. weight gain.
State by state
Perry wants to ban abortion after 20 weeks, cites 'fetal pain'
Study finds gap in Calif. hospitals' health reform preparedness
Accretive cleared by Vermont regulators
Maryland reports second death in meningitis outbreak
Abortion restrictions pass in Michigan in Blue Cross bill
Texas AG to look into cancer grant
Lobbying registrations
Mercury/Clark & Weinstock / Virtua Health
APCO Worldwide / The Cook Group
Reading list
Novo bets on high-price niche for obesity drug
GAO hits Medicaid on waste
Everything you need to know about Chained CPI in one post
When a plan overpays for a service, is a patient responsible for a refund?
What you might have missed on Healthwatch
Childhood obesity rates tick down in major cities
Study: Chronic illness on the rise in Medicare
Democrats question safety of 'Brazilian Blowout' hair treatment
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—Erik Wasson contributed.
