Health Affairs journal
Editor-in-Chief of Health Affairs, a nonpartisan health policy journal published by Project HOPE, and on-air health policy analyst for NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
PROFILE
Susan Dentzer
Guest
FROM Susan Dentzer
To the Point
Healthcare Spending Is on the Decline, but at What Cost? The good news is that America's historic expansion of healthcare spending has slowed to its lowest rate in 51 years, though that could change fast. The reason for the decline is the recession, which left millions unemployed, uninsured and less able or less willing to pay for doctors, hospitals and drugs. Maybe they're just eliminating unnecessary care. However, if they're foregoing what they really need, they could get sicker and require much more in the future. We ask consumers why they've cut back and ask experts, will spending go up again when the economy improves? This story was informed in part from sources in the Public Insight Network. Find out more at our website, www.kcrw.com/insight .
To the Point
Virginia Judge Rules Obama's Healthcare Bill Is Unconstitutional A federal judge in Virginia has ruled that the Obama healthcare reform is unconstitutional because it requires individuals to buy insurance. Susan Dentzer is editor-in-chief of Health Affairs, a nonpartisan publication of Project Hope, and a health-policy analyst for PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer .
To the Point
Obama Releases Healthcare Proposal that Includes Republican Ideas At a White House meeting of doctors and nurses today, President Obama made a new pitch for healthcare reform, putting it in the context of government competence and credibility. In today's address, the President repeated his claim that the plan reaches out to Republicans. Susan Dentzer is Editor-in-Chief of Health Affairs, published by the nonprofit Project HOPE.
Which Way, L.A.?
Obama Takes the Healthcare Debate Public On Thursday of next week, President Obama will host an unprecedented televised bipartisan negotiation on healthcare reform. Already there is partisan jousting over the ground rules. Republican Congressional leaders want to start the meeting with a blank slate; President plans to use a single compromise version of the bills passed by the House and Senate as his negotiating starting point. But will the President and Congressional Democrats be able to agree on a single bill? Will Obama's mastery at the microphone carry the day, or will Republican attacks on the bill's policies drive the final nails in the coffin of healthcare reform?
To the Point
Obama Takes the Healthcare Debate Public On Thursday of next week, President Obama will host an unprecedented televised bipartisan negotiation on healthcare reform. Already there is partisan jousting over the ground rules. Republican Congressional leaders want to start the meeting with a blank slate; President plans to use a single compromise version of the bills passed by the House and Senate as his negotiating starting point. But will the President and Congressional Democrats be able to agree on a single bill? Will Obama's mastery at the microphone carry the day, or will Republican attacks on the bill's policies drive the final nails in the coffin of healthcare reform?
Which Way, L.A.?
House Democrats Unveil Healthcare Bill, Including Public Option President Obama pitched healthcare reform again today, this time to an audience of small business owners. Meantime, Democratic leaders in the House unveiled their compromise bill , including a government-run plan to compete with private insurance.
To the Point
House Democrats Unveil Healthcare Bill, including Public Option Earlier this week, it was the Senate . President Obama pitched healthcare reform again today, this time to an audience of small business owners. Meantime, Democrats in the House announced it will take up its own version of a government plan to compete with private insurance. Speaker Nancy Pelosi made compromises to get the votes of moderates in her own party. Republicans said her plan came "lurching out of the back rooms…like another freight train of big government with more mandates and more spending and that's not what the American people want in healthcare reform." With debate to begin in both houses, we hear the pros and cons of the "public option" and other issues. If Independent Joe Lieberman won't go along, will a filibuster kill healthcare reform in the Senate?
Which Way, L.A.?
Healthcare Reform 2.0: Obama Prepares to Re-charge the Debate The White House has announced that President Obama will make a major speech to a joint session of Congress next week, the day after lawmakers return from their August recess. Polls show a drop in support for the President's healthcare plan , with Republicans increasingly going on the attack. The speech is a dramatic move which observers say indicates Obama's intention to re-focus the debate. What does Obama need to do to regain control of the debate? Is it time for the President to give up on a bi-partisan approach? Should he listen to liberals and make a public option for healthcare a non-negotiable item? What does he need to do to rally slipping public opinion?
To the Point
Healthcare Reform 2.0: Obama Prepares to Re-charge the Debate The White House has announced that President Obama will make a major speech to a joint session of Congress next week, the day after lawmakers return from their August recess. Polls show a drop in support for the President's healthcare plan , with Republicans increasingly going on the attack. The speech is a dramatic move which observers say indicates Obama's intention to re-focus the debate. What does Obama need to do to regain control of the debate? Is it time for the President to give up on a bi-partisan approach? Should he listen to liberals and make a public option for healthcare a non-negotiable item? What does he need to do to rally slipping public opinion?
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To the Point
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.
To the Point
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.
To the Point
What is Trump's plan for Middle East peace? On his first foreign tour, President Trump has promised "peace" between Israel and the Palestinians. Are there any details for re-starting talks that have been stalled for the past three years?
To the Point
Venezuela spirals into economic and political chaos Venezuela, a country whose potential for prosperity is unmatched, finds itself on the verge of civil war. What sustains the repressive government? With time running out, guest host León Krauze looks at what the international community can do to pull the country from the edge of collapse.