WASHINGTON (AP)—Majority Leader Harry Reid is considering a plan for higher payroll taxes on the upper-income earners to help finance health care legislation he intends to introduce in the Senate in the next several days, numerous Democratic officials said recently. These officials said one of the options Reid has had under review would raise the payroll tax that goes to Medicare, but only on incomes above $250,000 a year. Current law sets the tax at 1.45 percent of income, an amount matched by employers.
More than 12,000 Pittsburgh residents took giant steps for their heart health Oct. 17 at Heinz Field in the American Heart Association’s annual Start! Heart Walk. As the American Heart Association’s signature fund-raising event, the Start! Heart Walk promotes physical activity and heart-healthy living in a fun family environment. SUPPORTING A LOVED ONE—From left: Troi Simpson from the Hill District, Nikki Coffee and daughter, Tiffany Stuckey. Coffee is a cancer survivor. Stuckey, from Highland Park, is walking for her mother and Simpson, from the Hill District, is walking for her friend.
The Office of Health Sciences Diversity hosted the Health Sciences Diversity Alumni Banquet Oct. 23 at the University Club in Oakland. The purpose of the banquet was to celebrate the successes of Pitt alumni and to acknowledge the diversity and inclusion efforts of the schools of Dental Medicine, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Medicine, Pharmacy, Public Health and Nursing—for the purpose of working towards closing the gaps in health disparities, and creating a health care work force that resembles the nation’s fast-growing and diverse population. STUDENTS—Dr. Louis Sullivan, center, is surrounded by Pitt graduate students. From left: Obi Onuoha, Nahom Beyene, April Scott, Amal Nemengani, Dr. Walter Ackah, Tatianna K. Henderson,Kahleb Graham and Raynard Washington.
WASHINGTON (AP)—They may not like it, but many House liberals look ready to accept a compromise health care bill, putting Democratic leaders well on the way to delivering on President Barack Obama’s call for overhaul. After claiming for months they couldn’t vote for a bill without the strongest possible government-run insurance option, liberals are putting aside their disappointment over the weaker version in the legislation for a historic chance to remake America’s medical system. SEN. OLYMPIA SNOWE
WASHINGTON (AP)—Health care legislation heading for the Senate floor will give millions of Americans the option of purchasing government-run insurance coverage, Majority Leader Harry Reid announced Monday, although he stopped short of claiming the 60 votes needed to pass a plan steeped in controversy. Reid, D-Nev., said individual states would have the choice of opting out of the program. SEN. HARRY REID His announcement was cheered by liberal lawmakers, greeted less effusively by the White House and noted with a noncommittal response by Democratic moderates whose votes will be pivotal.
WASHINGTON (AP)— The White House is waiting for Congress to settle on a final health care bill, even though President Barack Obama has a clear preference in favor of at least one specific—the much-debated public option, advisers said. Obama, however, will not demand that legislation include a government-run insurance plan intended to drive down costs through competition with private insurers, they said. Instead, the White House will let Congress work out the details required to get something passed. VALERIE JARRETT
After the summer of hate, the public option as a feature of health care reform has once again gained popularity and possibly even the support of a majority of Americans according to a new poll conduced by ABC News and The Washington Post. The issue which has been the most contentious is the concept of a public option. In June, 2009 almost 62 percent of those polled favored a public option. That number crashed to a skimpy majority of 52 percent during the heat of the summer but has steadily risen to 62 percent now being reported.
The Steelers came to Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC on Friday to cook and serve lunch to breast cancer survivors, to help educate them on some healthy foods to eat, and to share their connection to breast cancer. Tony Hills, reserve offensive tackle, grandmother, Lillian Lemons, died of breast cancer when he was 6. Max Starks', starting left tackle, mom, Elleanor is a 17 year survivor. He was in the third grade when she told her family. THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT—Chef Vic Mannela shows Deshea Townsend how to make the stuffed green peppers with rice, beans, and feta with Max Starks, Tony Hill, and Dennis Dixon watching.
by Corliss Hill At first glance, the numbers are dispiriting: African-Americans have 2.3-times the infant mortality rate as non-Hispanic White Americans. They are four-times as likely to die of complications related to low birth weight as Caucasian infants. These statistics from the Office of Minority Health paint a bleak picture, one that is further reinforced by the fact that African-American mothers are 2.6-times more likely than Caucasian mothers to begin prenatal care late or not at all.
