Posted by Tina
** An Obama administration proposal to bill veterans’ private insurance companies for treatment of combat-related injuries has prompted veterans groups to condemn the plan as unethical and powerful lawmakers on Capitol Hill to promise their opposition. Nevertheless, the White House confirmed yesterday that the idea remains under consideration, and Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and leaders of veterans groups are scheduled to meet tomorrow to discuss it further. Washington Post **
** Angry advocates for veterans will return to the White House on Thursday to try to talk the Obama administration out of cutting benefits. *** The controversial plan has ignited a firestorm in the veterans community, and a meeting Monday with President Barack Obama failed to tamp it down. The same veterans groups that met with Obama have been asked to go back to meet with his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, for more discussions. – McClatchy Newspapers **
UPDATE** WASHINGTON The Obama administration on Wednesday abandoned a controversial plan to make veterans who have private insurance pay for treatment of combat-related injuries. Stung by the angry reactions of veterans, lawmakers and others, the White House made the decision after top administration officials met Wednesday with 11 veterans advocacy groups. – McClatchy newspapers **
** This afternoon, President Obama stopped by the Department of Veterans Affairs to commemorate its 20th anniversary as part of the Cabinet. *** With this budget, we don’t just fully fund our VA health care program — we expand it to serve an additional 500,000 veterans by 2013; to provide better health care in more places; and to dramatically improve services related to mental health and injuries. CBS News **
Hes all over the map! And there’s more in the news today regarding health care:
** WASHINGTON Guaranteeing health insurance for all Americans may cost about $1.5 trillion over the next decade, health experts say. Thats more than double the $634 billion down payment President Barack Obama set aside for health reform in his budget, raising the prospect of sticker shock at a time of record federal spending. Administration officials have pointedly avoided providing a ballpark estimate, saying it depends on details to be worked out with Congress. AP ** (all emphasis mine)
Keep in mind these estimates are always way off…and always way too low.