SPOTLIGHT: CLOSING IN ON A DEAL
House and Senate Democratic leaders yesterday emerged from a meeting on
Capitol Hill optimistic that they are nearing a deal on health reform
legislation. A final bill is being developed based on the Senate health
reform bill and President Obama's own proposal. In the meantime,
Democrats are in discussions on a second bill that would make changes to
the main bill before both measures take effect. House and Senate leaders
in general have revealed little about the details of the corrections
bill. However, sources familiar with the negotiations have indicated
that they expect it to include more generous subsidies to help U.S.
residents purchase health coverage, a higher Medicare payroll tax on
high-income families, additional funding for states for an expansion of
Medicaid and a provision that would delay implementation of a so-called
Cadillac tax on high-cost insurance coverage until 2018. House Ways and
Means Committee Chair Sander Levin (D-Mich.) said that the Democratic
leadership has reduced Democratic apprehension toward the final
legislation to "five to 10 substantive issues," most of them involving
the cost of the proposals.
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