principal staff author of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003
Partner in the healthcare practice of Sidley Austin; former Deputy Staff Director and Chief Health Counsel for the House Energy and Commerce Committee and principal staff author of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003
Children's Healthcare Coverage Becomes 'Philosophical' Battle President Bush and the Republican Congress created the Medicare prescription drug benefit in 2003 . No new revenue was provided to fund almost $330 billion for five years of increased costs. Now, at a cost of $56 billion in five years, Democrats and some Republicans want to increase health coverage for millions of uninsured children—by raising the tax on tobacco. But President Bush says that's a step toward "government-run healthcare." The dispute is coming to a head this week as Congress debates the State Children's Health Insurance Program , which has to be re-authorized before it expires in September. Why has SCHIP become a political football? Would increasing it be a step toward universal healthcare? Do such well-intentioned stop-gaps prevent comprehensive healthcare reform?
Two Camp Fire survivors share their stories KCRW speaks with two residents of Paradise, Calif., where the Camp Fire destroyed thousands of homes and killed dozens of people. Susan Fort’s home still stands. Natalie Carmichael was able to escape with her dogs but lost everything else.
Who will get displaced by a new Santa Barbara police station? The city of Santa Barbara says it needs a new police station, but building one means displacing either farmers or lawn bowlers. The Woolsey has not only destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to evacuate, but it’s displaced a diverse mix of wildlife. And a new contemporary art exhibition takes a deep dive into the most famous art heists in history.