2009-10-13

On October 13, the Senate Finance Committee approved America’s Healthy Future Act of 2009 (S1796) with a vote of 14 to 9, with only one Republican on the Committee, Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME), supporting the bill. The legislation would reshape the American health-care system by providing subsidies to help millions of people buy insurance but would not include a government-run health insurance option. Discussions are now beginning to blend the Finance version with the bill (S1679) approved by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on July 15.

In the House of Representatives, the Congressional Budget Office' preliminary estimate of the total cost of HR 3200, which includes the controversial government-run health plan or "public option" is approximately $871 billion over the next 10 years. Under the public option included in the bill, physicians would be reimbursed at Medicare rates plus 5 percent. House Democrats will begin surveying members today to confirm support for this plan. The Congressional Budget Office has also been asked to provide estimates on two additional options. Three House committees - Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education and Labor - marked up the House version of the legislation (HR 3200) in July, and ultimately, it will need to be blended into a single bill for final House passage.

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