OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Obama, Romney set to clash in first debate

Wednesday is the first debate between President Obama and Mitt Romney, and healthcare is sure to be a hot topic. A spate of recent polls show Obama with a lead on the issue of healthcare, and specifically on the Medicare. But Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan, have frequently revived their attacks on "ObamaCare" to breathe new energy into the GOP base.

The Obama campaign has already released an ad criticizing the Romney-Ryan plan for its Medicaid reform proposal, following up on the policy specifics offered by former President Clinton during the Democratic National Convention.

To prepare for tomorrow's debate, Kaiser Health News has worked up a handy Bingo card of likely healthcare phrases. Find it here.

'Outperform': A new study from the Commonwealth Fund concluded that the Affordable Care Act would "outperform" Mitt Romney's proposed healthcare policies on metrics of coverage, costs and consumer protection. Even compared to a baseline scenario in which the healthcare law was never implemented, Romney's plans would increase the number of uninsured Americans by about 12 million, according to Commonwealth. Obama's policies also scored higher on improving consumer choice and improving Medicare. Romney's campaign said the researchers were mistaken in the way they described and projected outcomes for the policies that the GOP presidential candidate backs. Commonwealth is a nonprofit research foundation that supports healthcare reform. Read more about the study at Healthwatch.

Women Speak Out: The anti-abortion-rights Susan B. Anthony List has launched a new super-PAC to challenge President Obama on the issue of abortion. The new Women Speak Out PAC will run a $500,000 TV ad buy targeting the president in targeted areas of Ohio, Virginia and Florida, the group announced Tuesday. One of the ads blasts Obama for opposing the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act when he was a state legislator in Illinois. "The most pro-abortion president our nation has ever seen resides in the White House and is seeking a second term," said SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser in a statement. "We will not sit back and allow deep-pocketed abortion advocates like Planned Parenthood and EMILY’s List claim to speak for all women." Healthwatch has more on the new group.


Wednesday's agenda

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will give remarks at the National Hispanic Council on Aging National Summit.

Third Way will release a survey on the senior vote and Medicare Part D.


State by state

Many states are not prepared for healthcare law

California governor signs key health reform bills, vetoes others

Synthetic drugs decline in Tennessee, thanks to tougher laws


Reading list

As Medicare drug premiums soar, it's time to shop around

States drastically cut dental care for adults on Medicaid

Study: Newly insured are likely to be healthy

Yes, we do know how to control health cost inflation

U.S. teen drinking and driving rate cut in half in 20 years


What you might have missed on Healthwatch

Paul Ryan runs healthcare ad for Wis. congressional race



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