E Street - Archives
Double Dip Recession
Should America pay down the 12 trillion dollar debt, or spend to create jobs? Congress wants to spend taxpayer dollars on a jobs program to put Americans back to work. Guests: Sen. Mike Crapo, Sen. Kent Conrad, William Beach, Henry Aaron (#252)
Health Reform Challenge
Governors Jim Douglas (R-VT) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) join us to discuss their state’s health programs, and the impact of federal health care reform. Guests: Gov. Jim Douglas, Gov. Joe Manchin (#251)
Health Reform Over 50
What's in health care reform for you? We'll dig into the House bill, and look at long-term care, the doughnut hole, prevention, and age rating. Guests: Rep. Chris Van Hollen, Rep. Michael Burgess, Tom Miller, David Certner (#250)
Doctors and Deficits
Medicare is scheduled to cut doctors’ fees by 21 percent. If that happens, some doctors may stop taking Medicare patients. While every year Congress has given Medicare enough money to pay its doctors adequately, this year may be different. Guests: Peter Orszag, James Rohack, Jonathan Blum and David Sloane (#249)
Contain the Cost
As the debate over health care reform continues in Congress, our show explores the costs of reforming the American health care system. President Obama says the trillion dollar cost will be offset through savings and new efficiencies. Opponents claim the Democrat health care overhaul will create unacceptable new deficits. We will also look at the cost of doing nothing. Guests: Dr. Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Len Nichols, Shannon Brownlee, Carrie Budoff Brown (#248)
Age Bias? Prove It!
A recent decision by the Supreme Court on age bias will make it harder for working Americans over age 40 to prove they were discriminated against because of their age. We explore Congress’ reactions, and other helpful tips on fighting bias. Guests: Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA,) Karl Carter, Michael Fox, Dr. David DeLong (#247)
Medicaid Stretch
Millions of Americans are forced to live in nursing homes because Medicaid is reluctant to pay for at-home care. Should seniors be able to choose between living in a nursing home and getting health care at-home? We hear both sides of the debate. Guests: Representative Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ,) Dennis Smith, Shailagh Murray (#246)
Savings Squeeze
President Obama has offered new incentives for retirement savings. We take a look at one of the proposals – making sure everyone has access to a savings plan at their job. Guests: Jason Furman Representative Peter Roskam (R-IL,) Karen Friedman, David John (#245)
Workforce 2025 A recent Pew Research Study focused on the graying of America’s Workforce. We talk to experts who will help us understand the implications of the study and what the next generation will find as it enters the workforce for the first time. Guests: Jane Oates, Deborah Russell, Paul Taylor (#244)
Health Care Hardball
How will health care reform assure people 50-64 that they can obtain affordable, quality insurance? How will Medicare benefits be protected for seniors? We take these questions to Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Senator Kent Conrad, and former HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt. Guests: Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND,) Secretary Michael Leavitt (#243)
Reverse Mortgage: Rescue or Trap?
Retirement – the golden years. But the years aren’t so golden if your fixed income won’t cover the bills. The assets you may have planned on using for retirement may have disappeared in the stock market crash or lost to lower housing prices. A reverse mortgage may come to the rescue. In essence, instead of paying the bank. the bank pays you. But there is a catch. Drawing out the cash you’ve invested in your home can be complicated, in some ways risky and there is the potential for fraud. Guests: Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL,) Representative Barney Frank (D-MA,) Peter Bell, Dworbell, Susanna Montezemolo, Mary Beth Franklin (#243)
Medicare CrimeBogus clinics, phony bills for phantom treatments, charging the government hundreds of times for the same wheelchair – these are some of the tactics of a new class of criminals. Their business: defrauding Medicare. And it adds up to billions of dollars a year. Medicare fraud, abuse and waste cost American consumers billions of dollars a year. The administration has decided to put new efforts into combating Medicare fraud criminals with the creation of a new task force aimed at busting up crime rings across the country. Guests: Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Jay Weaver, Representative Bart Stupak (D-MI) (#241)
House of Cards
The credit card industry is under fire from all directions. The Federal Reserve is tightening the rules. Both the house and senate are passing legislation to end unfair and predatory credit card practices. And president Obama called credit industry representatives into the White House to urge reform. We talk to leaders on Capitol Hill and journalists who cover the credit card industry. Guests: Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Nessa Feddis, Sen. Sherrod Brown, Joan Goldwasser, Nancy Trejos (#238)
Cooling Down Drug Prices
Prescription drug prices are heating up despite a cooling economy…Bio-tech companies are creating cutting edge drugs made from living cells. Called “Biologics,” these new drugs come to market at explosive prices. The battle has begun on Capitol Hill to move these life-saving drugs into the generic arena. We talk to members of Congress and pharmaceutical experts about cooling down drug prices. Guests: Roger Williams, MD, Diane Dorman, Rep. Gene Green, Rep. Frank Pallone (#237)
Killer Economy
Job layoffs, foreclosures, the recession….experts say the steady drumbeat of bad economic news has provoked a surge in mental health problems. Calls to crisis hotlines are soaring. State budgets for mental health services are being cut. What’s being done to protect America’s peace of mind? We talk to Representatives Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island and Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania about what some are calling America’s “Killer Economy.” Guests: Rep. Patrick Kennedy, Rep. Tim Murphy, Kathryn Power, Linda Rosenberg (#236)
Will Doctors Go Digital?
Paper medical records. Is this what stands between you and safer, cheaper health care? The administration wants to digitize them and connect all your doctors… but opponents call this an expensive toy and a privacy nightmare. We talk to E-Health Records experts, privacy advocates and others…Will doctors go digital? Guests: Dr. Peter Basch, Dr. Deborah Peel, Deven McGraw, Sen. Robert Menendez, Rep. Tim Murphy (#235)
The Call to Serve
Rising unemployment…increased homelessness…the economic crisis hits hospitals, soup kitchens and other non–profits, as the need for their services grows. Inside E Street asks White House Domestic Policy Adviser Melody Barnes and U.S. Congressman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon about the new Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. Others discuss the benefits of volunteering. Guests: Sen. Dick Durbin, Melody Barnes, Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon, Alan Solomont
Tom Nelson (#234)
Hurting for Nurses
Just as baby boomers are starting to age, America is facing the worst nursing shortage in 50 years. By 2020 this country is projected to need half-a-million nurses. There are plenty of people wanting to enroll in nursing school, but the schools do not have enough qualified nurse-educators available to teach. Why the bottleneck? And how can the problem be solved? Guests: Sen. Dick Durbin, Rep. Lois Capps, Patricia Conway-Morana, Ann Converso, Polly Bednash (#233)
Health Care: Choice or Chance?
Tucked into the 2009 stimulus bill was a provision to fund new research into health care practices. It's called Comparative Effectiveness Research, and the provision has ignited a firestorm of debate. Proponents say it means we'll stay healthier longer and can save billions of dollars a year. Opponents say it is a dangerous step on the road to health care rationing. We talk to Senator Kent Conrad and others about the quality of health care. Is it by choice or chance? Guests: Sen. Kent Conrad, John Rother, Stephen Ubl, Ceci Connolly (#232)
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