Massa's Allegations "Absolutely Untrue," Says Hoyer

By Laurel Brishel Prichard University of New Mexico/ Talk Radio News Service

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said Tuesday that statements made by former Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) claiming that he was forced out of office in order to pass health care reform legislation were "absolutely untrue."

“[It is] absolutely untrue ... that there was any relationship between actions and the health care bill. Period," Hoyer said during his weekly pen and pad session with reporters.

Massa, who resigned amid allegations that he had made inappropriate, sexual remarks to a staffer, has accused Hoyer of falsely stating that the Majority Leader had contacted Massa prior to the revelation of the scandal.

Hoyer denied making the claim, and instead stressed that each Congressman's staffs were in contact.

“I never talked to Mr. Massa,” said Hoyer. “My staff talked to his staff.”

Hoyer's staff reportedly urged Massa’s staff to go to the Ethics Committee within 48 hours or Hoyer’s office would take action themselves.

Insurance Providers May Soon Have To Reveal Rationale Behind Premium Increases

By Laurel Brishel Prichard-University of New Mexico/ Talk Radio News Service

Health and Human Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told reporters Thursday that through the administration's health care reform effort, health insurance providers could soon be required to publish the rationale behind premium increases on American's policies.

“Right now we have a situation where the top 5 companies filed earning reports of $12.7 billion for 2009 in terms of profit statements and yet pivot around with double digit rate increase," Sebelius said during a conference call with reporters. “People have no bargaining power, they have no leverage and often are desperate in terms of what in the world they are going to do."

According to the secretary, posting the reasons behind raised premiums online will provide additional transparency.

Sebelius's remarks came shortly after a meeting with a variety of the heavy hitting insurance company CEO's and commissioners, including those from UnitedHealth Group, Aetna and WellPoint.

President Barack Obama stopped in during the meeting, according to Sebelius, to share a letter that he received from a cancer survivor in Ohio. Her rates were increased 25 percent last year, which put her insurance premiums at $7,000, with $4,000 in out of pocket costs, and has been informed that her rates will go up another 40 percent this year.

Sebelius quoted Obama saying “that kind of rate increase is just unacceptable and unsustainable.”

Sebelius Blasts Hike In Health Care Premiums

By Monique Cala University of New Mexico/ Talk Radio News Service

Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius had harsh words regarding the ‘extreme’ premium increases insurance companies have requested this year.

“We are seeing this at a same time where not only is there an economic down turn around the country, but we know that insurance companies are not suffering that same kind of downturn,” said Sebelius during a conference call with reporters Thursday. “The five largest insurers in America have declared more than $12 billion worth of profits in 2009.”

The Secretary's comments came shortly after Health and Human Services released a report entitled "Insurance Companies Prosper, Families Suffer: Our Broken Health Insurance System," which detailed hikes in premiums, such as Anthem Blue Cross of California, which seeks to raise premiums by up to 39 percent.

Sebelius said she had contacted Blue Cross to ask for an explanation for the hike. In response, the company said they would delay the increase for two months.

According to the report, a recent study found that almost 75 percent of individuals looking for coverage on the individual market never bought a plan, with 61 percent of those who did not purchase insurance citing premium costs as the primary reason.

"The president said we won't fix the economy without fixing our healthcare system,” added Sebelius. “Thats why he invited leadership from the Democrats and Republicans, from the House and Senate, to sit down, roll up their sleeves and talk about a comprehensive health reform plan.”

PAYGO Passed And Antitrust Legislation Is Next, Says Pelosi

By Benny Martinez - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Thursday that PAYGO will soon be at President Barack Obama's desk.

"Today we [passed] on the floor of the House Pay-As-You-Go," Pelosi said. "Remember this: this is a very important day and judge Congress by its adherence to this important legislation. We owe it to our children and our grandchildren."

Under PAYGO, the government will be required to offset spending by making cuts elsewhere.

Pelosi said that a jobs bill remains a high priority. The House's version was passed in December of 2009 and is currently awaiting Senate approval.

Next on the agenda is legislation to deny antitrust exclusions for insurance companies. In an effort to disrupt collusion and price fixing, Pelosi said that legislation should be passed next week while efforts with a larger health care reform bill stall.

"When signed into law [antitrust legislation] will increase competition, give consumers more choices and, we believe, lower costs for health care in our country," Pelosi said.

Rural America Needs Quality Health Care Too, Says U.S. Agriculture Official

By Benny Martinez - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plays a key role in increasing health care for rural America, according to USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan. Merrigan spent Wednesday morning speaking with the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) and its members at the organization’s 21st Annual Rural Health Policy Institute.

The NRHA, a non-profit organization, has been in Washington all week consulting with various House Members regarding initiatives to expand the quality of health care coverage to rural America.

According to Merrigan, the USDA is working hard to increase the availability of quality health care to rural Americans. Over the past ten years, the Department of Agriculture awarded $2.6 billion through loans and grants to over 1,200 health care facilities. According to Merrigan, this money was used to improve facility infrastructure and to build new hospitals and clinics in rural America.

Merrigan also said that the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act granted the USDA $2.5 billion in an effort to expand broadband connection to rural hospitals and communities. Merrigan believes that this expansion will improve the long-term economic health of rural America and increase the efficiency of exchanging information between institutions.

“High speed connections will allow medical specialists to tell a medicine to provide advanced diagnosis for patients,” Merrigan said. “Or, to consult colleagues in other hospitals while sharing medical records.”

Using the theme, “Community Matters,” NRHA President Dennis Berens advocated the collaboration between his organization and Congress to expand quality health care to rural communities, saying “health, like politics, is always local.”