Miami Herald: Biden: US closer than ever to health care reform
Aug 20, 2009
By PHILIP ELLIOTT
The Associated Press
Aug. 20, 2009 — Vice President Joe Biden says despite recent “political turmoil” the nation has never been closer to substantial health care reform.
Biden spoke in Chicago on Thursday and sidestepped the question of whether a public insurance option should be part of a final health care bill.
Biden and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius (seh-BEEL’-yuhs) led a round-table discussion at Mount Sinai Hospital.
Biden announced nearly $1.2 billion in grants to help hospitals transition to electronic medical records.
Obama has made health care his top domestic priority. Congress is working on legislation, but some proposals are under intense attack from Republicans and other critics.