Chicago — (May 29, 2009) 

Important information about the content and timeline for consideration of congressional health system reform efforts has been leaked from the key health care committees. 

In the U.S. Senate, information has been obtained from the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee that suggests that the committee’s reform legislation will include at least the following components:

• Public Plan Option based upon Medicare payment levels with a requirement that providers participate
• Expansion of Medicaid eligibility
• Expansion of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to eligible individuals up to the age of 26
• Individual Mandate
• Employer Mandate
• Creation of a State-based “Exchange” clearinghouses where insurance could be purchased

The timeline accompanying this information provides for briefings on the reform proposal for Committee members and staff during the first two weeks of June, followed by committee hearings on the legislation.  Actual committee consideration of the legislation would take place during the weeks of June 15^th and 22^nd.  If passed by the committees, full U.S. Senate consideration could be expected following the July 4th Congressional recess.  Consideration would be expected to conclude by the end of July just prior to the traditional August recess.

In the House of Representatives, no specific information is yet available regarding the content of their plan.  However, information obtained from the key health care committees suggests a summer timeline for advancing the House version of reform legislation. 

A single House reform bill is expected to be publicly released the week of June 15^th.  The bill would be referred for consideration to the two key health care committees -- House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce Committees.  The bill would also be referred to the Education and Labor Committee, a committee that has jurisdiction over certain narrow insurance related issues including Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) issues.  The Committees would hold hearings during the weeks of June 22^nd and July 6^th with actual committee consideration the week of July 13^th.  According to the timeline, if passed by the Committees, the bill would be placed before the full House of Representatives the week of July 27^th.

The available information does not project activity beyond full House and Senate consideration of the reform legislation.  However, if both the House and Senate pass bills consistent with the timelines indicated, leaders of both bodies would be expected to meet in a conference committee to reconcile their different versions.  It is possible that such meetings would take place during the August congressional recess.  If the two different versions could be reconciled, both the House and the Senate would attempt to pass the new final version of the bill in September.  If passed, the bill would be sent to the President for his signature. 

ASA will continue to monitor development with regard to content and timeline for reform and make information available at http://www.asahq.org/Washington/healthcarereform.htm.

For more information on the field of anesthesiology, visit the American Society of Anesthesiologists website at asahq.org. For patient information, visit LifeLineToModernMedicine.com

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