Posted by Kristin Oberlander - After much negotiation, Senate leaders appear to have reached an agreement on the inclusion of a Medicare buy-in in lieu of a public option in the reform package. Here's a list of other top headlines related to the self-employed and the health care debate. If you see something we forgot to include, drop us a line at media [at] nase [dot] org.
- Senate Continues Health Reform Debate, Dems Emphasize Patient Protections (RTT News) - "Frustrated with insurance industry practices of dropping or denying coverage for those with expensive diseases, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said the Democrats' reform bill would put in place important protections."
- Profiles: How Could Health Reform Affect You? (PBS Newshour) - "A young woman without health insurance. A small business owner. A woman just diagnosed with breast cancer. The PBS NewsHour talks to health policy analysts about how health care reform could affect these individuals and other real people."
- CBO: Senate Bill Won't Change Small Biz Premiums (BizJournals.com) - "Premiums for individuals who buy insurance through the exchanges created by the legislation would be 10 percent to 13 percent higher on average than they would be in 2016 under current law, CBO found. That's because insurance policies in the exchanges would pick up a larger share of an individual's health care costs and cover services, such as prescription drugs, that often are not covered by current individual policies."
- Obama Says Health Care Reform Means Jobs (AP) - "Obama told a town hall gathering in Allentown, Pa., on Friday that health care reform is "part and parcel" of what has to be done to help the economy."
- Harry Reid: Democrats Reach 'Broad Agreement' (Politico) - "Democrats on Tuesday night took a major step forward on a plan by agreeing to ask congressional scorekeepers to give them cost estimates on a possible compromise that would break the impasse over health reform in the Senate."