President Obama released some details he would like to be included in health care reform legislation this week and requested legislation on his desk to sign by October. The details were more specific and may signal that he plans to play a greater role in crafting the legislation.
The list of priorities include a government-run insurance program that could compete alongside private insurers, a government commission to contain costs in health entitlements and an insurance mandate that would provide subsidies for those unable to afford the mandate. The public insurance plan will likely be the most contentious issue in reform and may be the deal-breaker for gaining Republican support.
Both the U.S. House and Senate are gearing up to debate the legislation. The Senate Finance Committee is expected to release legislation in the coming days. Their version is likely to include an individual mandate and they may consider taxing employer-provided health care benefits. The Senate HELP committee is expected to finally release their legislative language next week and it is likely to include an individual mandate, expanding Medicaid and reforming the insurance industry. These two committees will have to resolve differences before the legislation can be brought to the Senate floor for debate, which is expected in July. Three U.S. House committees are also drafting legislation and aiming for a bill by the August recess.
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