Late Saturday night, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed their healthcare legislation with a 220-215 vote. The House healthcare bill, estimated to cost more than $1 trillion over the next 10 years, includes a government insurance option, a Medicaid expansion to include all Americans with incomes below 150% of the federal poverty level, and up to $400 billion in cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. The Senate must now work to pass its version of a healthcare bill. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has yet to schedule floor debate, and it is uncertain as to whether the Senate will pass a bill before the end of the year. One key issue that many Senators have concerns with in the House bill is the public, government run option. Senator Reid is currently proposing a bill that includes a government plan that states could opt out of and he is continuing to meet with Senators to try and get the 60 votes he needs to begin the debate on the bill.
For more information on healthcare reform, please visit the Kaiser Family Foundation website: healthreform.kff.org/.
Tags: Enator, Harry Reid, Health Care Reform, House, poverty
