people are waiting to be rescued as rain has washed out bridges and roads, cutting people off from potential rescuers. more than 120 deaths are now blamed on the storm. and president obama in the rockies pushing for health care reform. today he is in the grand junction, colorado, we'll bring you live coverage at 6:00 p.m. is it a make or break month for health care reform. good evening, i'm melissa long in for fredricka whitfield. as you know, all week there have been town hall meetings cross country on health care reform. today, we're getting answers to your questions. i want to introduce the team that will be delivering those answer to you. ali velshi has been on the road, traveling 1,000 miles in the cnn express, talking to people about health care reform. gauging the pulse. hi, ali. >> we're here in des moines, io iowa, at the iowa state fair. so busy eating that i country do it, but i'll be with you. >> also. josh levs he is our truth seeker

in chief. you can add that to your resume. we'll be looking at questions from our blogs, facebook and twitter and angie holland as well with politico fact inch checking.com. not aligned with any side in this discussion. thanks for your time as well. let just get to all of the questions right now. so, josh, we have heard this week at one of the health care forums about the so-called death panels. this was something that came up actually on a facebook page just about a week, week and a half ago. it was a pesting on former alaska governor's sarah palin's web sincht right. well, she used the term death panel, but we heard many at these town halls give ideas that the government would create groups of people who ultimately decide who's going to live or die, who is deserving of medical care or who is not. the truth squad is back. we tackled t here's our verdict, folks. let's get straight to it. so you can see the verdicts on the big topics throughout the

week. our verdict, we can show you on a graphic is false on that. there are no death panel, there is no such thing as a death panel. even if you look at how it was situated. it wasn't going to have that power. i'll tell you a couple of facts. let's go to the next screen so people understand where this came from in the first place. there was a house bill that people looked at that would require medicare to have consultation to cover consultation about a advance care. but as we point out, you can read it on cnn.com, this next it screen lo will show you here, they were not going to be manned together, not required. now on the senate side, the senate finance committee is dropping it. so long and short of it you don't need to worry about death panels. and a lot more from the truth squad on cnn.com/health care. >> earlier in the week, senator arlen spe arlen specter in his state meeting with his constituents and he was asked a question, about whether or not health care reform, this new potential bill,

would force taxpayers to subsidize abortion. true or false? >> it would not require taxpayers to subsidize abortion. many private insurers offer abortion coverage right now. and under the public option, congress is trying to make it abortion neutral. so if people want coverage with abortion, they can buy it, if they don't want it, they can buy coverage that does not offer it rchtd. and they are trying to use accounting procedures so that patient premiums pay for the actual abortion services, not tax dollars. >> so false again. there would be an option as for looking at the potential legislation right now. jo, a lot of people at the health care forums have been talking about illegal immigrant, whether or not they would be covered under the reform bills as they're currently being discussed but also a lot of people curious about illegal immigrants going for the health care at the emergency room. >> that's right. we're going it to talk about both parts of this. let's go to the verdict on this

question. this is another way we weighed in at cnn.com slippery rock health care. here is the verdict right here, again it is false. when the claim is specifically that this plan, that is being put forward, by the administration, will demand that illegal aliens or illegal people who are illegally in the united states be covered. our verdict there is false. but i also want to show you this next screen because this is also an importance nuance to that the experts are also saying it would not erase the current problem, melissa. so people not legally in the country that then go to a hospital for health care, everyone is saying, it's not going to get rid of that but the bill itself, i put a link to it. if you want to read through, it's 1,000 page, the house bill, specifically says it not for people illegally in the united states. >> but cuts to medicare, again, false. >> there you go. >> okay. >> we have illegal immigrant, i'm looking at medicare, getting ahead of myself. looking back it a plan that was developed under lyndon johnson's

administration in the mid 1960s, people are curious whether or not there could be cuts to medicare. i want to bring in angie with politifact.com. a fact checking o. we looked into this question a and we found it half true. the basic coverage for patients, the government wants that to stay the same, but they're going to institute new regulations to control costs. when these cost saving measures go into effect. it might effect specific plans, particularly medicare advantage. >> again a half true then, explain what you mean by that. >> basically, it it is envisioned in the basic benefits will stay the same, but when all the regulations go into effect, especially the cost saving, government is trying to bring down the cost on medicare, as those measures play out, people may see details change, new services maybe covered. and other procedures, there could be changes. >> okay. >> i have heard this one, josh,

actually just this week. someone came up to me here in georgia and said, the president is going to have access to my bank account. it's a real worry for people. is that the case? >> no. and in fact, in a moment i'm going show you our verdict on this. sometimes it's interesting to see where these things come from. if someone reads a little part of some of the bills. let's remind everyone. multiple piece of legislation, work their way through the house and a senate. there's nothing even close to being voted on, let alone going to the president. but this is one claim that has come out. we have a serd i'll show you which again comes down to the same idea, that the government will suddenly get access to your bank account. that one is false as well. what you see there is that there is a provision and it affects companies and medical bill, not individuals. let's go to the next screen so i can tell you where this came from. when you look at his house bill, 1,000 page, lots of stuff in it. there is a provision calling for the government to set rules for

electronic transaction. people saw that and said the government is getting involved in electronic financial transaction, what kind of information would the government immediate to pull that out? then the next screen you see a little bit more. the actual purpose is to it set up a system under which insurers and doctors will have the standardized system because if that can be stream lined it could save a lot of money and time in the process. but specifically says it's not for individual, it's specifically for transferring money basically between insurance companies and doctors offices or hospitals according to all legislation that has been put foo,d your bank ask the safe, the government is not going to big brother your money. >> you mentioned there are several versions, we have three in the house. we have two in the senate. >> right. >> as you mentioned, of course, the committees then have to coalesce and present one to the house and one to the senate and vote on it. >> there are staffers trying to merge these things together into an individual bill for each chamber. it's great to piece through these things because lawmakers

are hearing from people all over the country about what they like and don't like and factor that in. so it's relevant to talk this out now but we don't have a bill anywhere close to being voted on let alone going to the president it. >> is heavy reading as well. we have linked to cnn.com/health care, but again, we are getting to the basics here. getting to the rumors behind this reform. one of the other question, angie, i know a lot of people have is would be whether or not are they have control. do they get to keep their own health insurance are if they want to keep it? >> well, we looked into this question in some detail. the basic idea is that employer provided insurance will stay the same. now, just like right now, employers can change plan, they can shop around, they can look for better deal, the new legislation will change a lot of the health care industry, especially how it's regulated and employers will have that same free zom right now to shop around and change plans, so people may see changes.

there's no guarantee that your plan will stay exactly weight it it is right now. >> okay. all right. no guarantees, again, these are all ideas right now, considered by our congressman, congresswoman and senators. josh levs, you've been given a new title today, what is it? >> i don't know, we have to call ali back up. he's been very generous. >> we're trying to get back to the basics of this health care reform. the question i know last our younger viewers have and readers on cnn.com is when they're done with college or when they're supposed to be done with college, sometimes you don't finish at 21. you may be in school until 25, 26, so they're concerned whether or not they'll faem fall under their parents' health care policy in this reform. >> this is was really interesting about this. we are not only listening to town halls and big events and where people are shouting things, but we're also hearing directly from viewers out there, you're writing us. i'll show you in a minute how to do that we're looking at the

questions you send in and a lot of questions people are repeating. that's one of the big ones which is why the cnn truth squad jumped on t so it's quite possible you'll send us a question right now and truth squad will be all over it in the coming days. let's go right to the next question. our verdict on that question, will there be coverage for college students over 25 is true. let's show you the basic thinking here. president obama's plan, what he has put forward, if that is to come forward t it will help people too old for their parents' insurance. up to age 25 in many cases, you can still be on your parents' insurance. but going to college in this economy are going back and finding more education, they want the opportunity to stay on their parents' insurance plan and that could actually make or break whether they're able it go back to college or delayed college in the first place. so what we are seeing here is the plan the president has put forward would establish that could you stay on your parents' insurance past the age 25 if

you're a full-time student. we don't know again if that's what the ultimate legislation will be, but yes that is indeed, to those of you who wrote us about that that is what the president is pushing for and that could make it in the legislation. >> our viewers have also been intrigue about what will happen with prescription drug coverage. let me bring in once again, angie holland with politifact.com. what have we heard about prescription drugs and how they'll be covered with reform? >> we haven't heard a lot are prescription drugs there. is a clause that says health choice commissionler establish basic coverage standards for prescription drugs but we don't know what that means yet. >> off. we're still waiting to see on this one. and dental insurance. i heard this come up at several of the town hall sessions we were broadcasting on cnn television also streaming online. what do we know about dental insurance, josh jo. >> you know what's interesting,

just before we came on the air, one of our producers told me we're getting lot answered lots of blog posts and questions about it? and whether it will be covered in there? the question is will health reform are leave out dental care? this is one of those shades of gray verdicts. the basic idea is this, when you look at the legislation and piece through it what you find is that under the white house plan, again the plan president obama wants, uninsured people can choose a plan through something called the health insurance are exchange. on this next graph you'll see under the basic plan that is provided under that exchange, there is dental care for those up to 21 years old. now, you could get dental care by paying extra. if you think about it that's what pretty much everyone does including those who work at private companies and private insurance, you choose, do i want to pay a little extra for dental

care, so it would be the same way. so yes, under the basic plan that has been presented, those under 21 would be covered for dent a this is another example. let me show you how to contact us. this is where people are tossing lots of questions us, cnn.com/josh. we're up to 600 now post, people are writing us your concerns or questions. it's/joshlevscnn. i'm going to show your page, too. go to melissa's page or mine to get your question in. our goal, not just today is the to truth squad, use that as a verb, as many of the questions as we can. >> truth seeker in chief. add that to your resume. >> i need new business cards. >> i don't have the power to do that. so pull that off. >> anchors have so much power. >> we've gotten through ten pressing questions and gotten

some answers. getting the flavor now on health care reform from ali velshi who is live in des moines, iowa, at a state fair. you have been treated to quite a few flavors this week as you've been traveling the country, enjoying fried dough and corn dogs but also the pulse. what people are saying about health care reform. >> exactly. i've been digging the flavors of state fair foods and what people are saying. i love josh, i want to take him with us on the bus because people come up with very, vr specific questions an they want answer. he's doing a great job of providing them. this coverage continues and we're going to get more questions an answers. combines two powerful medicines for fast relief of your diarrhea symptoms, so you can get back out there. imodium. get back out there. helping people save money doon car insurance.ut there gecko: aw thank you, sir. boss: but i think there are a few other things you can say about what a reliable company geico is.

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it is a make or break month on health care reform. as our lawmakers are back at home during their august recess meeting with their constituents, trying to discuss health care reform. cnn's ali velshi has been traveling the country as well during this august recess, traveling on the cnn express gauging the pulse of america. gauging what people are feeling about health care reform and ali, we've both seen a lot of town hall sessions and forums that have become quite tense. i understand, a lot of people you've talked to, are you haven't had that same kind of tension. >> no, not at all, in fact. we have had disagreement, there's no question. we've traveled 1,000 miles in six days and people think health

care reform is very urgent, needs to happen now. and those who think it's moving too quickly and we've had them in the same places disagreeing, at impromptu town hall, but it has not reached the tone and tenor in the town halls earlier in the week. i think even the tone of the town hall changed through the course of the week where they became more informational, they became more to do with questions that people had about health care and that's what i'm feeling out here. people have questions and concerns largely revolving around the cost of health care but also other matters you discussed earlier, accessibility, choice and option for doctors and coverage and the quality of health care, whether that will suffer under a health care reform program. but it's definitely been not only a civil conversation but a really pleasurable one to be part of over the course of the last week, melissa. >> so as people talk to you about the cost of health care and how it's going to affect them and their loved one, do the

people you're talking to feel like the government is doing a good job of explaining this reform or this potential reform? >> i haven't had a lot of people say they have. a lot of people say they really support the obama administration's efforts to do this, they agree with them, they believe very strongly in health care and i've had people who don't. i have not had anybody say anybody who opposing health care reform is being bloodie mind. everyone is taking the view that somehow this message has gotten away from the administration, the president's town hall meetings, there's another one in a couple of hours, they have apparently been more effective, people have said they like the way the president presenting answers to the questions and there seems to be more light than heat at his town hall meetin meetings. so there's some tacit criticism about the way this has been explained to people. >> he has that town hall coming up in grand junction, dinner hour. 6:00 p.m. eastern. before we wrap up right now, you mentioned something a moment ago about how some people feel this

is being rush and some people feel it needs to be sped up and i guess it depends on whether or not you have insurance our don't. >> yeah. >> whether you just lost your job. >> i just had somebody walk by about ten minutes ago and talk to me and say, what are we talking about rushed? we haven't had full insurance coverage in decades or a system of health care that's been effective for decade, but i had a dinner party on thursday night in kansas city and that was the uniform view, there were seven people who thought we needed health care reform but they felt it should take 18 months to two years to implement, so there's definitely a feeling out there about things being rushed, but let me tell you, i'm getting people telling me things where they're not quite shower how you can explain what should be done but they've heard somebody else say it's rushed or they heard someone else say we're heading towards socialized medicine and that gets repeated to me. that's part of the issue, if this is complicated as you and josh have pointed out, not everybody has read thes and even

if y , it's hard to understand. people are formulating opinions from what they hear from other people and in the media. >> you have two house committees and two senate committees all working on version, those have to be brought down to one. we're in recess right now anyway, law makers back in washington are work on trying to hammer out some kind of health care reform. ali, i want to ask you about something on a much lighter note. over your shoulder, i see a sign for cigarette, twinkies, i know you've been having corn dogs and fried dough, i thought you would be eating apples and carrots on this trip. >> if we do this again, i'm going to have to go through the health fair routes in america. i've been eating well, we just had somebody coming in, who said all you need here is news on a stick because everything sells on a stick at the iowa state fair. people are great and happy that

we're here, but you understand why i want josh on the bus with us. >> absolutely. >> josh is explaining things that are very complicated to explain. >> it's the party bus. it's the place to be. all right. ali velshi, thanks so much for helping us better understand the pulse of what people are saying be a health care reform. again, ali traveled 1,000 miles starting in atlanta and wrapping up in iowa. all this hour, we're answering questions about health care. would congress be exempt from having to participate are in a national health care plan? what do you think? we have the answer coming up. also the stories happening around the world today. the latest on the dangerous wildfires in northern california, forcing thousands of people from their homes south of san francisco. tom. now, i know the catering business but when i walked in here i wasn't sure what i needed. i'm not sure what i need. tom showed me how to use mifi to get my whole team working online, on location. i was like, "woah". woah ! only verizon wireless has small business specialists in every store to help you do business better. you're like my secret ingredient.

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as you know, we're focusing on health care at this hour. senator jim webb meeting with myanmar leaders to secure the release of an american are facing seven years hard labor. john yettaw will leave with him tomorrow, he was jailed for intruding into the home of aung san suu kyi. self-weren't killed in kabul, 90 others wound. the taliban has claimed responsibility. firefighters in northern california are bracing for a raging wildfire, the flames have blackened close to eight square miles since wednesday. and of course, health care health care reform, we are

looking into the rumors, getting the facts, getting the straight story on health care reform. josh levs is answering your questions for you this hour and i know we're seeing a the lot of steam, people are worried and quality of health care reform, the accessible and what it's going to cost. >> it's really interesting, the kinds of questions we're getting. at lot of people giving this a lot of thought. because so many people in this country are facing difficulties in this system. we have hundreds that i've been looking through here, we have one example i'm going to show you. take a look at this right here. this is one of the things we're talking about. . >> we're going to pose both of these questions to our guests an get some straight answers for you coming up right.

health care reform all this month, it is our focus, especially this hour from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. we are answering your questions. and to do that, i want to bring in angie holan again, she is associated with politifact.com. i want to make sure people understand your organizations. tell us about your role there. >> we're a news organizations we have no political affiliation, we're independent. our mission is to check the facts in all political issues, not to take sides but jst to make sure everybody is sticking to what is real and concrete in the debate. >> all right, angie. here's a question from ron in michigan, he wants what's real in the debate. he says why is the congress exempt from having to participate in the national health care plan? ron, here's your answer. >> we looked into this issue and

this is a bit of a misconception. congress is treated like any other person who has insurance through their employer. members of congress are going to be required to have insurance and they will be able to buy that insurance through their employer. now, the confusion is this public option, which is basic coverage for people who have to go out and buy their own insurance. congress is not required to buy this public option, but then again, members of the public are not required to buy it either. they can choose to buy it or they can look at other options from private insurers and buy those instead. >> okay. here's another question from a viewer. this is ellen, angie, who's asking i just heard president obama stating that the aarp backs his health care plan. then i heard the vp of aarp stating that they did not support any plan or bill at this time. ellen says, please clarify for

me. >> we looked into this our website as well. obama said the aarp endorsed his plan. we rated this barely true. the aarp does not endorse a particular bill or plan. but the aarp has looked at the legislation and they've issued statements saying they're pleased with a lot of the things they see. the aarp wants to see more of its members covered and it wants to see costs controlled more people can control insurance. >> i'm not sure if we have an answer on this one one, but it was posted on my facebook page earlier today. this was from a viewer who says when the bill is passed how soon will i be able to sign up for the public option? do we know? >> we don't know. the bill creates this health insurance exchange and gives a commissi commissioner a lot of power to set standards. it's not clear how long it's going to take to get this thing up and unaring but i don't think anybody wants to wait very long. so we'll see as far as they can probably get it operating. >> angie holan is with

politifact.com. i walls ant to bring in josh levs. >> i've got to say it's great to have someone who is a professional in fact checking. thank you for being with us here. let me show you a question here. i heard that the public option would not be open to everyone, what would be the requirements for joining? can you break this down for us a little bit. >> the way the public option works mostly is open for individuals. the health care plan says people who get their insurance through their employers, will keep doing that if they want to. for individuals and for small businesses there's going to be a new health insurance exchange so. if you weren't to go out and buy insurance on your own, you go to this exchange and the public option will be one of the choices. >> we talked about that earlier. i encourage people to get more information on that let's go to these we were talking about before the break. both come from steph b.

if you have insurance right now. this is one of people's biggest concerns, they are worried it could go away if a government plan comes along and competes. what's your take on that? >> the plan envisions insurance from employers staying the same. but we don't want to give the false impression that nothing will change under the plan. the plan sets out new rules so insurance plans have to provide basic coverage, the plan also institutes some new measures to try and control costs. again, that's a very key point, the controlling costs. it's not going to freeze our current system in place, there will be change, but again, the legislation envisions employer provided insurance staying in place. >> i like how how you're putting that. let me get to the second part of the question. how will the cost of reform ultimately be covered? one of the biggest questions a lot of people have? can you break that down. >> we've looked into this a whole lot and the answer is right now, don't know. there are a number of measures

being considered. president obama has said we will should limit the tax reductions for the wealthy. the house of representatives democratic controlled, they didn't like that so much. they decided on a surcharge for the wealthiest households. now we're also wait iing for published legislation from the senate and we don't know what they're going to do say. so we don't know how it's going to be paid for yet. >> thank you for that we've got more questions. another question we're taking a look at here is the idea that all these u.s. programs are have been going broke, why would a government-run health care program be any different? you can see, we're getting so many questions on the fly. we're going going to be presenting answers from the truth squad in the next hour. >> i also want to mention that the president is holding another town hall forum later today. 6:00 p.m. during the dinner hour. that's eastern time, you can watch it here live on cnn. now where exactly does health care reform stand in congress and where can you go to read lengthy reading for you this weekend about what is being

proposed for yourself. we're going to tell you coming up. i never thought i would have a heart attack, but i did. you need to talk to your doctor about aspirin. you need to be your own advocate. be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin an aspirin regimen. you take care of your kids, now it's time to take care of yourself. welcome home, man.

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is it a make or break month about health care row form in america. in this hour, we are folk consumption on health care reform and fact finding. we're looking into the reform rumors. we're going you can to about right now where health care reform stands right now in the halls of congress. there are three house committee s working on separate version of the legislation, those are going to have to be merged into one, one bill for the house to vote on later. the senate side, we have two committees working on reform plans that would have been merged into a bill before they go before the full senate. th then, of course, negotiators work out the differences between the house and senate versions. if the final bill passes it goes to president obama's desk for his signature, so while this is an important month for public comment, you can tell there is a lot of hard legislative work

still to be done. we've been looking at your kwhae, is most pressing, what is most at the top of your mind today. i know josh levs, our truth s k seeker in chief has been looking at the questions you've been posting on face book pages and twitter as well. >> what we've done, what i want to do now is take a minute to show everyone the key websites where you can get the answers yourselves. because you can't carry us around all the time. but you can if have you web on the your phone. zoom in here. this is the new page, cnn.com/healthcare. it has a lot of important linx on it. in this main blue section, we link you to our fact checks and we link you to the actual bills themselves. >> that's my favorite part. >> that you can actually check out bills. >> that you sit down and hopeful rfully not print out because that's too many pages but read them on line there. . you've got the house bill and

senate bill. two more things. if you go to cnn.com/josh, i've listed all these websites you can click on them right here including politifact.com where our guest is from. another fact checking news agency. check that out all the time. >> you know, josh, we also have a quick vote at the bottom of cnn.com/healthcare. it is no surprise, divide, if you look. 52% saying yes, 48% saying no. participate in our quick vote as well. go to cnn.com/healthcare. got it? >> no, it must be farther down. >> folk consumption on the billing questions about health care reform f congress passes the health care bill will it reduce the number of specialized mds? we'll answer those questions. take your e-mails coming up. and also, of course, the top stories of this saturday. a deadly car bombing in afghanistan's capital and just days, just five days before the country's presidential elections.

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for a deadly due side bombing outside the afghan capital. seven killed, 91 injured including service members. president obama is mixing business with some pleasure this weekend. he's holding a town hall forum on health care reform in grand junction, colorado, at 6:00 pchl eastern time, but it was earlier today, you can see video, actually this is not the video, but you'll see it later, visiting yellowstone national park with his family. there along for this trip out west. health care reform, that's what we're focusing on for you at this hour. all this hours, answering your most pressing questions be a health care reform. josh, people are very concerned about the quality of the care they'll be getting and the costs. >> yeah. it's really interesting what we're getting. we'll zoom in really quick. because the text is getting t e tiny. i'm looking at facebook over here, twitter a minute ago and this is the blog. scroll down, you can see, just

keep coming and coming. we're going to be talking to our guests about what's to make us think based on the government's track record it can successfully run a government program and save money along the way. we'll get some answer.

if make or break month for health care reform in america. during recess, lawmakers are out and about meeting with constituents. as you know, participating in a series of town hall forum, we're talking about pressing health care questions today from the 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. hour here on cnn. i want to bring back in angie holan, she is with politifact.com. it is a fact checking group. once again, i think that we cannot stress enough a little bit more about your background. tell us more about

politifact.com and your research. >> well, we started politifact.com during the election because we wanted to fact check the candidates. we've continued after the election and what we do is we publish every weekday new items on our website that we've rated for truth there. >> is no side when it comes to what you are reporting. >> that's correct there. is no side. we are a nonpartisan journalism organization. >> here's the question from chris to that nonpartisan journalism organization. he writes from florida saying, if this bill passes, will there be a shift from the advancing field of medicine toward are primary care? will the number of specialists decrease? skris concerned about future mds and those currently in medicine possibility changing their expertise? >> you know, this is a great question. it's hard to predict about the number of specialists decreasing. what we do know is the legislation sends a more reserious source towards encouraging primary care doctors. some experts believe there's a shortage here.

and that there need to be more doctors, kind of on the front lines giving people that basic care and working on preventive care. so the legislation does aim to beef up primary care does that come at the price of specialists? hard to say. >> okay. angie holan from politifact.com. as you know, we're getting e-mails in in real time, josh monitoring them? >> we are. angie, one of these questions, i want to get back to it if we can. because so many people are writing us, this whole idea basically boils down to this. not trusting the government to offer a plan and start to effect the finances of the health care try thchlt sis one example here that says medicare, medicaid is going broke. why would a government-run health care program be any different? that comes to us from gary hall. what's a politifact's take on this given the government's track record? >> i think some of this is going to come to people's personal opinions and believe about government and role of government. now about the fiscal picture, we have talked to experts and they

say that medicare, medicaid and social security have long-term problems with the financing. health care reform, if it works the way the proponents hope it will bring down the costs. but that isn't going to fix all of our long-term problems. basically, more money going out than is coming in. and that problem is going to stay with us even if health care reform passes and works the way they want it to. >> angie and josh, again, we're focusing on questions that are coming in from our viewers today. our readers on cnn.com as well. now, i want to remind you as well, you can find out more about this fact finding mission on cnn.com/healthcare and also politifact.com. if you are changing your jobs, curious, what does that mean for you and your health plan? we'll tack that will topic coming up.

a critical month for health

care reform in america. we are answering your most pressing health care questions this hour. that's what we're dedicating this hour to. let me bring back in angie holan. she with the fact checking organization. politifact.com, associated with the stnt peterst. petersburg ti. >> thanks for having me. >> our next question comes from a viewer that's clearly done some homework, citing a page in particular. page 16, suggests that you -- is this true? >> no, this a misreading of page 16. we've looked into this very extensively. in fact, the name of the section of page 16 is protecteding the choice to keep current coverage. this is the first part of the bill that explains the overall

plan, which is employer provided insurance, stays in place. and individuals will get a health insurance exchange where they will go and comparison shop for a health care plan. >> comparison shop, very important to a lot of viewers as we have been learning, not only for the town hall forums but e-mail comments and questions. here's a question from a viewer who says, yes, i agree that the status skwoe unsustainable. but why has will been no discussion about preforming malpractice insurance? >> an interesting question. president obama has said he is open to ideas on malpractice insurance and reforming it. there haven't been any major initiatives getting a lot of attention. and some experts say that it wouldn't get at the core cost issues, which have to do with health care expenses, not so much with lawsuits. >> okay. and a question from a viewer,

what about at tort reform? why isn't it included? >> tort reform, similar to malpractice, not on the aempd right now, however, obama has said he's open to it. >> again, from politifact.com, angie holan. a fact finding group for politics. don't forget about cnn.com/healthcare as well to learn more about the bills, the potential reform and learn more about all the questions we've been talking about this hour. josh, i know you have been looking at some of the e-mail questions coming in during our broadcast? >> yes, coming up, we'll be tackling this one. ultimately when you look at this plan right now, who are the financial winners and losers whose following the money? look for that. %%%%%%%%%

all this hour as we talk about how it's a make or break month, we talk about health care reform right now. but you can also go back in history on our website and learn about the health care reform that past administrations have tried. our website takes you back to 1912 in fact to then-president teddy roosevelt campaigning for universal health care as far back as 1912. if you go to our website, we take from you 1912 to 1965 when president johnson signed into law medicare and medicaid programs, then in 1972 when then president richard nixon extended the medicare coverage. then of course we take you to just 15 years ago, under then

president clinton seeking to completely overhaul the health care system. as you know, the effort to change health care was defeated in 1993. you want to learn more, get even more historical look at health care rae form in this country. again, go to cnn.com/healthcare, while you are there also participate in our quick vote about whether or not you think we're actually going to have health care reform comprehensive health care reform this year. right now, the vote pretty split. 52-48. 52% yes, 58% no. that not a scientific poll but still gauging again your sentiment today. i want to bring back in once again angie holan with politifact.com. thanks again. >> thank you. >> a fact finding group affiliated with the st. petersburgs times, nonpartisan. can't stress that enough. i want to focus on a question from a viewer right now that talks about one of the bill, angie that says that an employer who does not offer health insurance will be find.

what's to stop my employer from figuring out it's cheaper to not offer us health insurance and just pay the fine. what do you think? >> that's an interesting point. the fine for employers is in the bills, it's not clear if that's going to be passed or not, that's a point of contention in this debate. as for the viewers's question, employers have the freedom to drop coverage and pay the fine. employers right now can drop their coverage is f they so desire. so i don't know that it's going to change a whole lot as far as employer employers are not going to lose their free democrat to offer or not offer coverage but with legislation we may have a new fine. >> i want to highlight one question we talked about off the top of the program earlier, i don't think we talked about it recently and somebody may be just tuning in right now. there has been questions about whether or not prescription drugs, how prescription drugs will be covered in health care reform. can you speak to that as well? >> you know, the legislation

says that health choices commissionler outline basic coverage and prescription drugs are included as part of that. but as far as exactly what types of prescriptions will and won't be covered, it's very difficult to say at this point. >> okay. again, from politifact.com. angie holan joining us all this hour providing us with her expertise. politifa politifact.com is a nonpartisan news organization delving into not just health care reform but all things politics. thank you for spending your saturday afternoon with us. appreciate it. josh levs as well, our truth seeker in chief. we're going to work with you tomorrow morning. i'm looking forward to it as well health care reform, the topic on today. coming up at the top of the hours, don lemon, live from centennial park.