Author Archives: Neil Trautwein, VP, Health Care

Neil Trautwein

Read more about Neil at the NRF.com website.

Mar04

Finding the root of all health care evil

By Neil Trautwein, VP, Health Care | Published: March 4, 2010
Posted in Health Care | Public Policy

President Obama’s speech today to a hand-picked audience of camera-friendly white coats was clearly intended to stoke the fires needed to push health care reform legislation across the finish line. There was not much there that was actually substantively new. I’m not sure that the loyal opposition – or general public for that matter – [...]

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Feb24

The health reform summit we need versus the summit we will get

By Neil Trautwein, VP, Health Care | Published: February 24, 2010
Posted in Health Care | Public Policy

President Barack Obama, along with select members of his Administration, the bipartisan leadership of both the House and Senate, and key committee leaders, will gather tomorrow at Blair House (across Lafayette Park from the White House) for a one day summit ostensibly intended to rekindle a bipartisan flame for health care reform. Every protocol and detail [...]

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Feb18

Health care reform summitry

By Neil Trautwein, VP, Health Care | Published: February 18, 2010
Posted in Health Care | Public Policy

In acknowledgment of substantial gains Republicans seem to be making on key issues or perhaps in a politically shrewd move, President Obama has invited the bipartisan leadership of the House and Senate to a televised one-half-day health care reform summit meeting on February 25. The meeting will be held in the historic Blair House – [...]

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Feb02

Lucy, the health reform football, and Charlie Brown’s regret

By Neil Trautwein, VP, Health Care | Published: February 2, 2010
Posted in Health Care | Public Policy

Poor old Charlie Brown…
Although Brown intellectually knew that Lucy had demonstrated a repeated propensity to whisk away the football at the penultimate moment, leaving him tumbled head over heels, he was ever hopeful that she would hold true the very next time. Charlie Brown just knew that – if he had the opportunity – he [...]

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Jan22

Mr. Brown comes to Washington – now what?

By Neil Trautwein, VP, Health Care | Published: January 22, 2010
Posted in Health Care | Public Policy

Scott Brown’s election to fill the remainder of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy’s term has blown conventional wisdom out of the water and thus has set health reform on a very different course. Health care reform will either come back down to earth or it won’t happen at all. Congratulations to Senator-elect Brown and welcome [...]

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Jan19

Backroom deals – front-room anger

By Neil Trautwein, VP, Health Care | Published: January 19, 2010
Posted in Health Care | Public Policy

One might think that health care reform has a past due expiration date the way President Barack Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid are scurrying about.  Footsteps are clearly being heard as Massachusetts voters meet today to select their junior U.S. Senator.  This race – regardless of its outcome, though [...]

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Dec18

Harry’s gamble: keep it moving before people notice

By Neil Trautwein, VP, Health Care | Published: December 18, 2009
Posted in Health Care | Public Policy

Senate Majority Leader Reid is beginning to act a little like a fish monger at closing time.  Better hose down the shop quickly or the smell may frighten the neighbors.  Reid’s rush to pass health reform legislation before Christmas stinks a little bit, too.  “Making history” is a thin argument to make while pushing legislation [...]

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Dec07

Buying smart: how to better afford health care reform

By Neil Trautwein, VP, Health Care | Published: December 7, 2009
Posted in Health Care | Public Policy

Some things that are good and much more that is bad could emerge from the great health care debate currently underway in the U.S. Senate. Lawmakers are struggling with how to reshape one-sixth of the U.S. economy in a single (bill) bound. Part of the problem is that they can’t agree on health reform’s goal.
Depending [...]

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Nov24

How to be pro-health care reform and against the Reid bill

By Neil Trautwein, VP, Health Care | Published: November 24, 2009
Posted in Health Care | Public Policy

I’ve heard some criticism recently on our supposed “opposition to reform.”  Don’t you support health coverage for everyone?  Don’t you believe the Obama Administration’s claims that health reform will lower health insurance coverage costs while preserving everything you like today in health care?
We support universal health coverage for all (in fact we proposed our comprehensive [...]

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Nov15

Ten ways to cut health care costs (with or without Congress)

By Neil Trautwein, VP, Health Care | Published: November 15, 2009
Posted in Health Care | Public Policy

Congress thus far has huffed and puffed and passed one gargantuan health care bill (H.R. 3962) that spends far too much ($1.05 trillion/ten years or more) but saves far too little on rising health care and health coverage costs. As a matter of fact, it will increase coverage costs for many employers and employees. These [...]

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