US health reform heads for decisive vote
pharmafile | December 22, 2009 | News story | Sales and Marketing | Obama, Senate, US healthcare
The US Senate has passed new healthcare legislation, giving President Barack Obama signs of progress on reform in both parliamentary chambers.
Senators voted 60 to 40 in favour of the new reforms, and along party lines, with all Democrats for and all Republicans opposed.
The next step is a second and final vote in the Senate which, if passed, must then be reconciled with another bill passed by the House of Representatives in November.
The Senate’s second vote is likely to fall on Christmas Eve, but the season of goodwill is not evident on Capitol Hill, where the two political parties are bitterly divided on the issues.
The Senate bill would give most US citizens health insurance, while private insurers would be banned from refusing to provide insurance because applicants have pre-existing medical conditions.
Insurance would be made more affordable with subsidies available to help those in lower income bands and there would also be access to new insurance market places.
There are key differences between the Senate and the House bill. The House bill still includes a government-run health insurance plan, or public option, that was removed from the Senate version, as it is the part of the reforms held in greatest suspicion by Republicans, who fear a government ‘takeover’ of the country’s currently privately run healthcare system.
Republicans also argue that the legislation is flawed, and will cost the country too much to fund
The Republican’s Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said: “Mark my words, this legislation will reshape our nation. And Americans have already issued their verdict. They don’t want it.”
Despite the considerable wrangling still to come, Democratic Senator Tom Harkin was optimistic.
“We’ll get this passed before Christmas and it will be one of the best Christmas presents this Congress has ever given the American people,” he said.
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