Health Reform - "Down to the Wire"

Health Reform - "Down to the Wire"
Sunday January 17, 2010
This morning on ABC's "This Week" political news and analysis program, a panel discussed this critical week for health reform in a segment called "Down to the Wire", an accurate depiction of the Obama administration's last minute scramble to pass health reform legislation. With a key vote taking place this week for the Senate seat vacated by the late Ted Kennedy (D-MA), many analysts feel that Tuesday's Massachusetts election could make or break health reform altogether.

If Democrats lose the Senate seat in Massachusetts, they also lose the 60-vote, filibuster-proof majority, making Republican blockage of health reform much more likely, some say inevitable. With the future of health reform riding on Tuesday's election, the campaign for the vacant Senate seat has heated up to a frenetic pace in the days preceeding the vote between the conservative candidate state Senator Scott Brown, and Democratic candidate Martha Coakley, currently the Massachusetts attorney general.

Obama and key Democrats spoke out in defense of health reform earlier this week, assuring constituents that an agreement is near, in reconciling the differences between the Senate's health reform bill and the House's health reform bill. On "This Week," political analyst George Will described the proposed health reform legislation as "unpopular", "huge", and indefensible, while supporters of the bill disagreed on the panel, citing the need for universal coverage and the historic nature of the legislation. Such heated debate on health reform is sure to continue until, and possibly even after, health reform is passed or defeated in coming weeks.

As health professionals, and consumers of health care, all we can do is watch, and wait, as the future of our careers, and our medical care, hangs in the balance. Health reform will impact health professionals and patients unlike any other legislation has in decades, in ways many do not fully understand, due to the sheer size and scope of the proposed legislation. Do you think health reform will pass? And if so, do you agree with the proposed legislation? Why or why not? Feel free to share your thoughts below.Health Reform - "Down to the Wire"Source: www.about.com

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