WASHINGTON — In their attempt to pass a sweeping health care overhaul this weekend, Democrats in the House of Representatives are pushing a package of legislative revisions to lure undecided or opposed members of their party to the "yes" category.

Proposed changes to the health care bill that the Senate passed include a scaled-back tax on high-cost health insurance plans — a provision that's widely unpopular with House Democrats — and more money to help states pay for an expansion of Medicaid, the state-federal health program for poor people and those with disabilities.

The new measure, called a reconciliation bill, also would take additional steps to close a gap in Medicare prescription-drug coverage and to help low- and middle-income Americans purchase health insurance through new insurance exchanges. » read more

ATLANTA — Georgia Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue, wrestling with a massive hole in the state's Medicaid budget, has proposed a new tax on hospitals and managed care plans. In addition, hospitals in Iowa and Tennessee, as well as in rural Wisconsin, are calling for higher taxes — on themselves.

As the recession demolishes their budgets, states are increasingly turning to taxes on hospitals and other health care providers to help pay for their beleaguered Medicaid programs.

For state governments, the taxes offer an added benefit: By coming up with more money for Medicaid, they can get more funds from Washington for the joint federal-state health care program for the poor and disabled. In addition, some, but not all, hospitals will get more money in Medicaid payments than they'll pay in increased taxes. » read more

WASHINGTON — Richard Doerflinger doesn't look the part of a high-powered political strategist. Bearded and bespectacled, he works in a small, cluttered office out of one of Washington's less-fashionable neighborhoods, far from the lobbying bastions of K Street.

Yet as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' point man on abortion, Doerflinger has emerged as a major player in the health care debate, one who's likely to play a pivotal role in the outcome.

It was Doerflinger who orchestrated the bishops' successful campaign late last year to add a tough anti-abortion provision to the House of Representatives' legislation. The Senate adopted less-stringent language. » read more

TYRRELL COUNTY, N.C. — There are no doctors in rural Tyrrell County, N.C. There's only Irene Cavall, a licensed nurse practitioner and the sole source of primary care for 4,000 residents spread out over 600 square miles.

It's been that way since the county's lone doctor moved away two and a half years ago. Cavall sees as many as 40 patients a day at the Columbia Medical Center. It's about 40 miles west of the Outer Banks; an ambulance ride to the nearest hospital takes 25 minutes.

There are limitations to her work. By state law, she works under the supervision of a doctor, albeit one many miles away, and calls him and specialists as needed. For 15 years, however, Cavall has been helping patients with a range of routine problems — from colds to management of diabetes — that don't always require a doctor. As she said, doctors "don't need to give someone a Tylenol." » read more

WASHINGTON — In their effort to overhaul the health care system, President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats pressed hospitals, drug makers and other providers to accept billions of dollars in government payment cuts and new fees to help finance the legislation.

The groups made the financial concessions because the measure promised a rich payoff: millions of newly insured customers. If the legislation fails, however, those savings, primarily cutbacks in Medicare and Medicaid, might end up being used for something far different: reducing the federal budget deficit.

The result would be lost revenue for influential industry players, and a setback for AARP. The seniors' group went along with the proposed Medicare cuts, even in the face of criticism from members, in part because other provisions would provide new help in paying for prescription drugs and long-term care. » read more