Congressional action regarding healthcare reform is very dynamic and changes almost daily. As such, any information contained below could already be, or will shortly become obsolete. We follow the proceedings in Washington on a daily basis and provide updates as details of plans become clearer.

WHAT is the latest?

Yesterday, the Senate Finance Committee voted to approve out of Committee their healthcare version of a healthcare reform package 14 – 9, with all Democrats and Senator Snowe (R-ME) voting in favor. With this action, now all five Congressional Committees that have jurisdiction over healthcare reform have passed a healthcare reform package.

WHAT happens now?

With all five Congressional Committees that have jurisdiction over healthcare reform passing a different version of reform, Congressional leadership now has the very difficult task to combine the Committee passed bills into a single bill that can be introduced to the floor of the House and Senate.

In anticipation of this reality, Senate leaders have already begun the process of merging the provisions of the Finance Committee’s bill with the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee’s bill that passed Committee during the summer. Leaders in the House have also begun their process of drafting a consolidated bill out of the versions passed by their three respective Committees of jurisdiction.

We will make every effort to continue to provide weekly updates as this important issue progresses.