Healthcare Reform

House approves 2 bills addressing final healthcare reform bills; legislation returns to Senate
Late Sunday night, the House of Representatives passed two bills, culminating their effort to approve final healthcare reform legislation. Initially, the House passed H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the bill approved by the Senate last December. This bill passed by a vote of 219 to 212. The president is expected sign H.R. 3590 into law shortly. Following that vote, the House then passed H.R. 4872, the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010, by a vote of 220 to 211. This legislation modifies the Senate bill (H.R. 3590), and H.R. 4872 serves as the foundation of changes made by Congress to the current healthcare delivery, payment and insurance system. The bills fail to address the pending 21.3 percent cut to Medicare physician payment and the repeal of the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula. Senate Republicans have stated their intention to offer numerous amendments and raise multiple points of order to the legislation. If the bill is changed in any way prior to Senate approval, it must return to the House for an additional vote before the president can sign it.