Earlier this afternoon in the Capitol, the Senate began debate on and offering amendments to its landmark health reform bill. Among those offering amendments were Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), and Bob Casey (D-PA).
Just prior to that, Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV) kicked off the debate with a dose of partisanship and baitsmanship. Asking for unanimous floor requests, Mr. Reid seemingly forced Republicans, specifically Mike Enzi (R-WY), into a trap by accusing them of blocking attempts at government transparency. Find the complete article at the New York Times Prescriptions blog.
This afternoon, just before Mr. Reid opened the debate, Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) received a letter from the CBO that discusses how the proposed bill will affect premium costs. They report that individuals who qualify for subsidies (those earning less than 400% FPL), not surprisingly, will experience a premium drop. But, those who don't receive subsidies will pay 10 to 13 percent more. Large employers are estimated to not see marked reductions in the number of employees they cover and premiums are expected to hold steady or drop 3 percent.
Read the complete Kaiser Health News article here.
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