Medicare

OVERNIGHT HEALTH: All about Ryan

by Sam Baker and Elise Viebeck - 09/13/12 10:30 PM ET

The Hill has more.

FYI: The Medicare issue isn’t going anywhere — Ryan (R-Wis.) is campaigning in Florida on Saturday, and President Obama will be there next week.

Blast from the past: The Medicare debate hasn’t changed that much in the past 48 years. Here’s a 1964 attack ad from Lyndon Johnson, criticizing Barry Goldwater as a jet-setting, out-of-touch candidate who didn’t understand just how much seniors needed a program like Medicare. Sound familiar?

Welfare bill moving: Two House committees advanced a bill to block the Obama administration’s controversial welfare waivers, which sets the stage for a floor vote on the measure. The Ways and Means and Education and the Workforce committees advanced the resolution (H.J.Res.118) along party lines Thursday morning. As expected, the panels continued familiar debates over the policy, which the administration says will move more people from welfare to work, during markup.

{mosads}”The simple fact is increasing work is not the goal of waiving the work requirements,” Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) said Thursday morning. “Instead, expanding how many people receive benefits appears to be the goal.”

Democrats responded by calling the GOP objections politically motivated. “This legislation is an effort to pursue a claim that has been thoroughly discredited by independent fact-checkers,” said Ways and Means ranking member Sandy Levin (D-Mich.). “It raises serious questions as to [Republicans’] motivation on this bill.”

Camp promised a floor vote on the measure will come soon. Read more about the markups at Healthwatch.

Anti-cancer fly-in: Hundreds of advocates came to Capitol Hill Thursday to defend federal investment in cancer research and prevention. Among their priorities is continued funding for cancer programs at the National Institutes of Health, the National Cancer Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and palliative care legislation. The fly-in was organized by the Cancer Action Network of the American Cancer Society, which estimates that 570,000 Americans die of cancer each year. On Friday night, the group plans to hold a candlelit ceremony in front of the steps of the U.S. Capitol to remember cancer victims.

‘Sober Truth’ grants: A division of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced $15.1 million in new grants to prevent underage drinking. The money is being awarded through the Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act from Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.), which made the prevention of underage drinking a federal priority in 2006. The grant program will reward community-based coalitions that work on the issue.

Friday’s agenda

The House Ways and Means subcommittee on Social Security will hold a hearing on the future of the Disability Insurance program.

The House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing on the use of special hiring authorities by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) will host an event commemorating Childhood Obesity Awareness Month.

The Department of Agriculture will announce grants to help schools meet new nutritional requirements for school meals.

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network will hold a ceremony near the U.S. Capitol steps.

State by state

In Texas, health officials think the worst of the West Nile outbreak has passed

Virginia Board of Health prepares to take up abortion clinic regulations

Long-term care is a big worry in California, poll finds

Florida denies forcing disabled kids into nursing homes

Maryland is considering rules to prevent concussions among teen athletes

Reading list

Congressional Research Service: Obama’s welfare policy is legal

CAO: CMS is lax on reporting violations to anti-fraud database [reg. req’d]