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Health Care Blog

Learn more about President Obama's health reform agenda.

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$86.2 Million

Big insurance companies spent millions trying to fight heath reforms that end lifetime limits and protect against denying coverage to those who get ill or have preexisting conditions, but millions of Americans are already benefiting from the new law.
November 17, 2010 at 1:12 PM ET by Stephanie Cutter

Myths about Medicaid

Get the facts about the health reform law, Medicaid and state budgets.
November 16, 2010 at 5:55 PM ET by Stephanie Cutter

HealthCare.gov Insurance Finder Gets Better for Consumers

Check out the latest update to the HealthCare.gov Insurance Finder, which now includes more private insurance plans and health insurance companies.
November 15, 2010 at 4:00 PM ET by Todd Park

Health Care: What They’re Reading

Medicare’s Open Enrollment period begins and Americans across the country read about the benefits of the new law for seniors and the importance of delivering the benefits of reform to the American people.
November 15, 2010 at 2:03 PM ET by Stephanie Cutter

The Beginning of the End of the Tobacco Epidemic

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius writes on the first ever comprehensive tobacco control plan.
November 10, 2010 at 3:47 PM ET by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius

Text4baby Growing Up, Sets Million Mom Goal

Text4baby was announced in February and sent its one millionth text message in May. The program recently won a Health and Human Services Innovation award and, as of this month, has sent nearly 6 million messages to more than 100,000 subscribers. But that is just a start.
November 9, 2010 at 7:25 PM ET by Hillary Chen

Life-Saving Treatments: Made in the U.S.A.

Learn more about tax credits made possible by the Affordable Care Act that will help save lives and create jobs.
November 3, 2010 at 3:23 PM ET by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services

Highlighting HIV Issues Among Older Americans

The White House Office of National AIDS Policy convenes a meeting on HIV and aging to discuss to raise awareness about people who are aging with HIV or contracting HIV as seniors.
November 1, 2010 at 6:06 PM ET by Gregorio Millett

West Wing Week: "The Mysterious Case of Mysterious Case 55"

This week walk step by step with the President from the White House to Rhode Island and back to DC for the Daily Show.
October 29, 2010 at 12:00 AM ET by Arun Chaudhary

Eliminating Lifetime Limits Helps Paul Focus on Care

Paul was born with hemophilia, so his experience with health insurance has been a “lifelong endeavor.” Provisions in the Affordable Care Act eliminating lifetime limits make keeping coverage easier for Paul.
October 25, 2010 at 12:53 PM ET by Nikki Sutton

Employers, Insurance and Health Care

Learn more about the Affordable Care Act and employer sponsored health insurance.
October 21, 2010 at 5:02 PM ET by Stephanie Cutter

A Small Business in Arkansas Benefits from the Affordable Care Act

Lisa Sharp runs a bookstore and she didn’t think she would ever be able to provide health insurance to her employees. After losing several of her staff to jobs that offered benefits, she was happy to learn about the Affordable Care Act’s new small business tax credit.
October 20, 2010 at 11:03 AM ET by Nikki Sutton

Adrienne Explains How College Students Are Benefiting from the Affordable Care Act

Adrienne Lowe, like many college students, was wondering how she was going to get health care after she graduates from college. Because of the Affordable Care Act, she now has the option of remaining on her parents’ health insurance plan.
October 19, 2010 at 11:24 AM ET by Nikki Sutton

Nurses Speak Out

Watch a roundtable discussion as nurses from across the country dicuss the benefits of the Affordable Care Act.
October 19, 2010 at 5:00 AM ET by Stephanie Cutter

A Wisconsin Mother Shares her Health Care Story

Tracy’s son Sami was diagnosed with a medical condition when he was very young but, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies can no longer deny coverage to children based on a pre-existing condition. Hear Tracy tell her story and find out how the Affordable Care Act is helping people in your state.
October 18, 2010 at 11:26 AM ET by

A Battle that Takes Place Every Day

Dr. Jill Biden highlights Breast Cancer Awareness Month and to emphasizes the importance of early detection and regular screenings.
October 15, 2010 at 6:24 PM ET by Dr. Jill Biden

From a Small Business in Oregon: Health Care Law Helps

Jim Houser of Portland, Oregon shares his story as part of the 50 Stories/50 States project and explains how the small business tax credit will make it easier for him to provide coverage for his workers.
October 15, 2010 at 9:46 AM ET by

Commemorating National Latino AIDS Awareness Day

National Latino AIDS Awareness Day is October 15, 2010. This year's theme “save a life, it may be your own” speaks to the deadly turn HIV/AIDS has taken in the community.
October 15, 2010 at 9:00 AM ET by James Albino

Today’s Ruling in Florida

Learn more about court cases regarding the Affordable Care Act.
October 14, 2010 at 5:34 PM ET by Stephanie Cutter

Today’s Ruling in Florida

Learn more about court cases regarding the Affordable Care Act.
October 14, 2010 at 5:31 PM ET by Stephanie Cutter

A Health Care Story from Nebraska

As part of the 50 States/50 Stories project, Emily Schlicting of Omaha, Nebraska discusses how the Affordable Care Act is giving her the freedom to make decisions about her life without worrying about whether or not she’ll have health insurance.
October 14, 2010 at 1:55 PM ET by

What Health Reform Means for African Americans

Health care is no longer an unmet promise for African-Americans and all Americans, it is now the law of the land. Michael Blake from the White House Office of Public Engagement discusses how the Affordable Care Act is improving the health care system and introduces a new video from Dr. Garth Graham.
October 13, 2010 at 10:57 AM ET by Michael Blake

Putting an Old Rumor to Rest

Beginning in 2011, employers will have the option of including the value of the health care benefits that you have received on your W-2 so you can know more about your benefits and you are an empowered consumer. You will not pay taxes on these benefits.
October 12, 2010 at 10:54 AM ET by Stephanie Cutter

Building the Bridge to 2014

How the Administration is ensuring a smooth transition in the market place between now and 2014, when the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented, so that consumers don’t become worse off along the way.
October 7, 2010 at 8:35 PM ET by Stephanie Cutter

‘Blue Button’ Provides Access to Downloadable Personal Health Data

In August, President Obama announced the creation of a new “Blue Button”—a web-based feature through which patients may easily download their health information and share it with health care providers, caregivers, and others they trust. Since then, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have beta-tested their respective systems—with great success.
October 7, 2010 at 3:47 PM ET by Aneesh Chopra

ONAP Commissions Institute of Medicine to Examine Data Gaps in Monitoring Access and Quality of HIV Care

The Office of National AIDS Policy is partnering with the Institute of Medicine to help improve access to insurance as well as the quality of care for those living with HIV.
October 4, 2010 at 10:20 AM ET by Jeffrey S. Crowley, Jeffrey Crowley and Gregorio Millett

HHS Awards $3.5 Million to Expand HIV/AIDS Care Capacity for Minorities

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announces two grants totaling more than $3.5 million to reach beyond the Ryan White Program and provide expanded care and treatment for minority patients that have been impacted by the HIV/AIDS.
October 1, 2010 at 2:18 PM ET by Miguel Gomez

Letting in the Sunshine: Insurer Pricing, Denial Rates Now Available on HealthCare.Gov

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius explains how HealthCare.gov is getting better. For the first time, price estimates for private insurance options are available, allowing consumers to easily compare health insurance plans and get the information they need to take more control over their health care.
October 1, 2010 at 6:00 AM ET by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius

West Wing Week: "One Two Three ... Lancers!"

Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Walk step by step with the President as he signs the Small Business Jobs Act, speaks to college journalists, holds backyard discussions about the economy with area families across the heartland and much more...
October 1, 2010 at 12:00 AM ET by Arun Chaudhary

Quintessentially American: Leveling the Playing Field for Best Ideas to Combat Diabetes

Robynn Sturm, Advisor for Open Innovation to the Deputy Director of OSTP, witnessed a striking role-reversal in the field of biomedical research. The Dean of Harvard Medical School, Jeffrey S. Flier, a prominent diabetes researcher in his own right, listened intently as undergraduate Megan Blewett presented her pioneering proposal to advance Type One Diabetes research in promising new directions.
September 30, 2010 at 5:28 PM ET by Robynn Sturm