Tag Archives: Kathleen Sebelius

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Surging


Obamacare Enrollment Gaining Steam

Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the enrollment figures for Obamacare through the end of November. Unsurprisingly, about four times more people enrolled during the month of November as did during October, when HealthCare.gov was largely non-functional. Reports indicate that enrollment has continued to surge over the past two weeks ahead of the December 23 deadline to purchase coverage taking effect January 1, 2014.

Here are the topline numbers to know:

  • 110,410 Americans signed up for private coverage through HealthCare.gov just last month.
  • 1,900,000 people have made it through the process but have yet to select a plan.
  • 364,682 Americans selected plans through the state-run or federal insurance marketplaces (137,204 through HealthCare.gov and 227,478 in state-run exchanges).

The surge resembles Massachusetts’ successful launch of Commonwealth Care, where most people signed up later in the open enrollment period:

OctNovEnrollment

Enrollment for Massachusetts’ Commonwealth Care in 2007:

MA2007

In other good Obamacare news, a report out today found that the number of women who are receiving birth control at no additional cost — a key Obamacare benefit — has jumped 25 percent since the requirement went into effect last year.

“This data confirms that the Affordable Care Act is already working for millions of women and their families — and we expect that number to keep growing,” said the president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Cecile Richards.

For their part, Republicans continued to attack the law during another predictably one-sided hearing.

Things did not go so well for Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL), who botched an attempt to compare HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to North Korea’s totalitarian dictator and then totally freaked out. A Democratic Member admonished Shimkus, who was shouting at Sebelius, to allow her to actually answer his questions. “I do not have to allow her to answer the question!” Shimkus screamed in reply.

ShimkusFreakout

(Shimkus was attacking the aforementioned no-cost preventive care benefits under Obamacare, which include birth control and cancer screenings.)

BOTTOM LINE: Obamacare is working and more than a million Americans have gained access to health coverage because of the law, many for the very first time.

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HHS awards Affordable Care Act funds to expand access to care


The U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced $150 million in awards under the Affordable Care Act to support 236 new health center sites across the country. These investments will help care for approximately 1.25 million additional patients.
New Access Point Awards Map

Read the News Release

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Health Care Supporter,

Health care will be front and center when the Democratic National Convention begins tonight. There will be a short film about the fight for the Affordable Care Act and the important benefits it has delivered to the American people. During the hour starting at 8 p.m. ET, be sure to see the story of how health care reform has transformed the lives of people across the country. Later we’ll hear from Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and First Lady Michelle Obama.

We expect the video and these leaders to highlight some of the life-changing accomplishments of Obamacare that will be felt for generations to come:

  • People with pre-existing conditions will no longer be blocked from buying affordable health insurance.
  • The Medicare prescription drug plan donut hole has begun to close for good.
  • Seniors now have a whole range of preventive health benefits with zero out-of-pocket cost.
  • Women are entitled to no-cost contraception and preventive benefits.
  • Insurance companies must spend 80% of premiums on actual health care or give the difference back to consumers.
  • Small businesses that offer health plans to their workers are collecting tax credits.

Be sure to follow HCAN on Twitter and like us on Facebook. We’ll be sharing the video as soon as it is available. You can also watch the convention without interruption on C-SPAN.

Thanks,

Will O’Neill
Health Care for America Now

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Youtube – Korean Americans – Women’s Health – President Obama


President Obama calls on Congress to pass the bipartisan, paid-for ideas that he proposed last year to put construction workers back to work upgrading our roads and bridges, teachers back in the classroom educating our kids and police and firefighters back on the job keeping our communities safe, and addresses the state of the economy, including the situation in Europe, which continues to pose headwinds to our recovery here at home. June 8, 2012.More

 

President Obama calls on Congress to stop interest rates from doubling on student loans, and discusses his Administration’s initiatives to keep college affordable for students and their families. June 7, 2012.More
 
 
 

This week, the President traveled to Honeywell International in Minnesota, to highlight efforts to help veterans find good paying jobs, urged Congress to support the Paycheck Fairness Act and to not let interest rates double on student loans on July 1st. That’s June 1st to June 7th or “Roll up our sleeves and never quit.”More
 
 
 
U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, senior White House Officials, and a diverse array of media, organizations, groups and stakeholders engage in an open dialogue about women’s health care and the Affordable Care Act. June 7, 2012.More
 
 
 

The White House Office of Public Engagement and The Council of Korean Americans host a briefing for Korean American community leaders to discuss issues of importance to the Korean American community, including foreign policy, immigration, human rights, small business, education, civil rights, and trade. June 7, 2012.More
 

The White House Office of Public Engagement and The Council of Korean Americans host a briefing for Korean American community leaders to discuss issues of importance to the Korean American community, including foreign policy, immigration, human rights, small business, education, civil rights, and trade. June 7, 2012.More
 
 
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Patient Protection – Affordable Care Act Case – March 26 – 28, 2012 and the Supreme Court


March 26-28, 2012

The Court has granted review of cases challenging provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The orders, briefs, and other information are available at this link. The Chief Justice’s 2011 Year-End Report

The Clerk’s Office and was told that they will post audio files and transcripts on their website >>>  http://www.supremecourt.gov with morning session information being posted by 2pm that day and the Wednesday Session will be held from 1pmET – 2pm ET with audio & transcripts being available by 4pm ET

The C-SPAN cable network said it would play back the arguments on a broadcast channel and on radio as soon as they are available.

Listed below are live links to the orders, case filings, and other information pertaining to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act cases. Click on each item to access further information.

 
Orders
 
11-14-11 Grant Order
11-18-11 Amici Appointment Order
12-08-11 Briefing Schedule
02-21-12 Allocation of Oral Argument Time
   
   
Case Filings
 
11-117 Thomas More Law Center, et al., v. Barack H. Obama, President of the United States, et al.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari
Brief in Opposition
Reply Brief
 
11-393 National Federation of Independent Business, et al., , v. Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services, et al.,
Petition for Writ of Certiorari
Appendix to Petition
Brief in Opposition
The American Bar Association has provided a link to the briefs at the merits stage of this case at this link.*
 
11-398 Department of Health and Human Services, et al., v. Florida, et al.
Petition for a Writ of Certiorari
Appendix to Petition
Brief of Private Respondents
Brief of State Respondents
Reply Brief
The American Bar Association has provided a link to the briefs at the merits stage of this case at this link* for the anti-injunction act and this link* for the minimum coverage provision.
 
11-400 Florida, et al., v. Department of Health and Human Services, et al.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari
Brief in Opposition
Reply Brief
The American Bar Association has provided a link to the briefs at the merits stage of this case at this link.*
 
11-420 Virginia, ex rel. Kenneth T. Cuccinelli, II, Attorney General of Virginia v. Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services
Petition for Writ of Certiorari
Brief in Opposition
 
11-438 Liberty University, et al., v. Timothy F. Geithner , Secretary of the Treasury, et al.,
Petition for a Writ of Certiorari
Brief in Opposition
Reply Brief

The Court has granted review of cases challenging provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The orders, briefs, and other information are available at this link. The Chief Justice’s 2011 Year-End Report

I spoke to the Clerk’s Office and was told that they will post audio files and transcripts on http://www.supremecourt.gov  with morning session info being posted by 2pm that day and the Wednesday Session held from 1pmET – 2pm ET with audio&transcripts being available by 4pm ET

The C-SPAN cable network said it would play back the arguments on a broadcast channel and on radio as soon as they are available.