OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Will Romney get specific on Medicare?

Mitt Romney's presidential campaign pledged Monday to offer more specifics about the GOP nominee's policy proposals. Will that extend to healthcare? And, if so, will that help or hurt Romney and vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan?

Romney and Ryan have so far managed to avoid a serious policy debate about their healthcare plans, including their controversial plan to partially privatize Medicare. Although Ryan often says, "we want this debate," the campaign's actual strategy has been to neutralize the debate by preemptively attacking President Obama.

Delving into more policy specifics on healthcare and Medicare could open Romney and Ryan up to deeper criticism from Obama on an issue where he already has a distinct advantage. Although the president's healthcare law isn't especially popular with voters, they still say Obama would do a better job on healthcare issues than Romney.

The Hill has the story on Romney's pledge for policy details. And in case you missed it, we also delved into the reasons why Obama polls better on healthcare despite uncertainty about his signature healthcare law.

Medicare, too: The New York Times had a similar angle over the weekend, examining President Obama's lead specifically on Medicare. The paper's latest poll showed Obama with a newfound advantage on the issue of Medicare, and more than 75 percent said they favor preserving the existing program instead of switching to one like Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan have proposed. The issue could also help Obama dislodge Romney's lead among voters 65 and older. Here's the NYT report.

California pitches sitcom plug: California's insurance exchange has some very California ideas for boosting public awareness of the new marketplace: a subplot on "Grey's Anatomy" or "Modern Family." The exchange adopted a public-relations plan earlier this summer that includes pitching those shows on plot lines that would highlight the Affordable Care Act, and the exchange also has its eyes on a reality show about being uninsured.

Enrollment — which, of course, stems from awareness — is a key issue for every exchange. But Republicans have already balked at using government funds for public-relations campaigns tied to the healthcare law. Healthwatch has all the details.

Latinos and the healthcare law: Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius praised the healthcare law's benefits for Latinos on the heels of a poll showing that the community favors President Obama over Mitt Romney by more than 40 points. Sebelius's statement — which emphasized that the Affordable Care Act will fight health disparities between minorities and the population at large — also came as Romney prepared to deliver a speech to the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Los Angeles in a bid for more Latino support. "Too many Latinos live sicker and die younger in America than they should," Sebelius said, arguing that the healthcare law will expand health insurance, promote preventive care and improve community clinics. The statement officially marked Hispanic Heritage Month. Read more at Healthwatch.

Fighting substance abuse: The Institute of Medicine (IOM) is recommending that the Pentagon overhaul its approach to preventing and treating substance abuse among service members, given that rates of abuse have risen sharply in the last decade. Some of the military's practices related to substance abuse, especially with regard to evidence-based treatment, have not been updated in decades, the IOM found. The panel recommended overhauling the military health insurance program, Tricare, to cover standard therapies for substance abuse and limiting troops' access to alcohol on base, among other strategies. The report came out Monday at the behest of members of Congress. Healthwatch has the story. 

State by state

Alabama's segregation for inmates with HIV faces court scrutiny

Haley administration hopes to avoid replay of stimulus fight on Medicaid expansion

A visit for Yosemite means worries and waits for visitors after viral outbreak

Federal judge dismisses Prime's lawsuit against Kaiser Permanente, SEIU

Lobbying registrations

Peterson Group / Cleveland BioLabs

Walter Consulting / ADVault

Reading list

You will feel it whether that healthcare law stays or goes

China will expand insurance so the sick don't "lose everything," minister says

Cancer is the leading cause of death for U.S. Hispanics, study says

HHS, VA go granular in info exchange demo [reg. req'd]

What you might have missed on Healthwatch

GOP bill would repeal Agriculture Dept. calorie caps on school lunches

This week: Congress is taking care of business


Comments / complaints / suggestions?

Please let us know:

Sam Baker: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it / 202-628-8351

Elise Viebeck: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it / 202-628-8523

Follow us on Twitter @hillhealthwatch

---