The Obama administration says checks to help seniors with high drug costs will go out starting June 10, ahead of schedule. The $250 checks for Medicare recipients who fall into the prescription drug coverage gap are a new benefit this year, provided under President Barack Obama ...

EDITOR'S NOTE — An occasional look at how influence is exercised in Washington. By ALAN FRAM Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Notice you're not bombarded anymore by TV ads about President Barack Obama's health care overhaul plan? Drugmakers, business organizations and other interest groups in the health care battle have dialed down expensive lobbying campaigns as ...

More Americans support creation of a new government-run health insurance plan to compete with the private insurance market, a new Associated Press poll finds, but the level of enthusiasm depends on how the question is asked. Tell people that letting the government sell insurance would be cheaper ...

EDITOR'S NOTE — An occasional look at how influence is exercised in Washington. By ALAN FRAM Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — One operative tried to enlist trade groups in Maine to oppose government-run health coverage. Another helped a member of a Las Vegas conservative group appear on local talk radio to criticize the proposal. A third persuaded a Louisiana activist ...

The White House and top Democrats, intensifying their push to build support for their party's health overhaul proposals, are increasingly targeting women, a politically crucial group with strong opinions on health care that polls suggest has yet to be sold on the changes. In speeches, news conferences and even an all-female talk-in on the Senate floor Thursday, Democrats have ...

Millions of Americans could be affected by the health care overhaul that's being hashed out in Congress. Will that include the few hundred of them who serve in the House and the Senate? Curiosity about the reform effort and lawmakers' own health benefits inspired ...

EDITOR'S NOTE — An occasional look at statements in the debate over public policy and how they compare with the facts By CALVIN WOODWARD Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The judgment is harsh in a new poll that finds Americans worried about the government taking over health insurance, cutting off treatment to the elderly and giving coverage to illegal immigrants ...

The chief of the insurance industry's top lobbying group is telling The Associated Press that the battle over reshaping the nation's health care system will be decided during this month's congressional recess. Karen Ignagni, president of America's Health Insurance Plans, told ...