Reform proposal would bar health plans from excluding the sick; Medicaid reimbursement gets closer to Medicare payments;

> With reform overtaking the Hill, new proposals are flying around daily. One such proposal would forbid insurance companies to bar individuals who are already sick or inclined to become sick, while Medicare and Medicaid would be expanded to help cover many more Americans. Article

> Medicaid physician fees rose 15.1 percent from 2003 to 2008, a growth rate that is closing the gap slightly between Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement, according to new research. Article

> How will the U.S. absorb the massive costs of healthcare reform? Well, one Harvard professor argues that modernizing the way healthcare is delivered, and improving productivity, could pay for reform in and of itself. Article (2nd posting)

> For the second week in a row, protesters advocating for single-payer health reforms disrupted a Senate hearing--and it seems they won't be giving up anytime soon. Article

And Finally... Now you know why your office mates are always bugging you to take your old lunches home. Article