WASHINGTON WIRE

October 2, 2009
Issue 216

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Senate Finance Completes Mark-up of Healthcare Bill

Senate Leadership Starts Merging Healthcare Reform Bills

Hearings

Top Story

SENATE FINANCE COMPLETES MARK-UP OF HEALTHCARE BILL

The Senate Finance Committee completed the mark-up of their version of the healthcare reform bill in the early morning on Friday, October 2. The Committee is expected to vote on America's Healthy Future Act of 2009 next week. The Finance bill will be merged with the Senate HELP Committee's legislation before a bill is brought to the Senate floor.

Over 500 amendments were submitted to the Senate Finance Committee for review, and the Committee ultimately considered about 150 amendments. After many hours devoted to a debate on the role of a public option in healthcare reform, the Committee eventually passed an amendment that would establish state-run public plans. The amendment, offered by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) would give U.S. residents with incomes between 133% and 200% of the federal poverty level who do not have employer-sponsored health insurance the option to enroll in a state-based public plan. States - which would have the option of choosing whether to establish a public plan - would receive the federal tax credits that would otherwise go to those individuals if they had purchased insurance on the private individual market. Those states that opted to forgo the public plan would be required to maintain equitable coverage through Medicaid or through a private plan sold through the health insurance exchange.

The Committee also passed an amendment that would lower the income threshold under which individuals could opt out of the individual mandate to have health insurance. The amendment would also reduced the penalty individuals would pay if they were above the income threshold but refused to purchase insurance.

Health Care News

SENATE LEADERSHIP STARTS MERGING HEALTHCARE REFORM BILLS

Press reports indicate that Senate leadership has begun to merge the Senate HELP and Senate Finance Committees two healthcare reform bills, although the Senate Finance Committee has yet to pass their version. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT), Senate HELP Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) are expected to oversee the merging process.

The HELP and Finance bills have significant differences, with the HELP bill appealing to more liberal members of Congress and the Finance bill appealing to fiscal moderates. The HELP legislation includes a national public option, while the Finance bill includes by amendment the option for states to offer public health plans to individuals without employer sponsored insurance below a certain income level. The HELP bill also includes an employer mandate, while the Finance bill omits the mandate but includes a "free rider" provision that charges large employers that do not offer insurance a fee.

Once the bill is merged, the bill can be brought to the Senate floor for debate. Republicans and fiscally conservative Democrats are leaning towards waiting for a formal score from CBO, while more liberal Democrats are pushing to start debate with the preliminary CBO score. The formal score might take two weeks once CBO has received the combined bill.

Upcoming Events

Hearings

Wednesday, October 7

Breast Cancer Bills
House Energy and Commerce - Subcommittee on Health
10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn Bldg.

Thursday, October 8

HHS Nominations
Senate Finance Committee
Full Committee Confirmation Hearing
10 a.m., 215 Dirksen Bldg.

Health Care Overhaul and Small Business
Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., location TBA

For More Information

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