Health Reform Legislation Sees Progress after Rough August Recess - September 14, 2009

Returning to Washington after a summer recess featuring fractious town hall meetings and negative press about health reform, congressional leaders have worked quickly, nevertheless, to move the health reform legislative process forward. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) released an 18-page “framework” document detailing provisions in his health reform proposal. The document will likely form the basis of the chairman’s mark that he intends to release during the week of September 14. Chairman Baucus, while still hoping to pass a bipartisan bill out of committee, has said he will move forward with a mark-up during the week of Sept. 21 (while NAPH holds its legislative day in Washington) without Republican support if necessary.

Meanwhile, the House Energy and Commerce Committee intends to hold a brief mark-up session the week of September 14 to consider a number of amendments that were left over from the panel’s July mark up. This includes an amendment sponsored by Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL), and supported by NAPH, which would authorize grants for safety net hospitals to set up and operate Collaborative Care Networks. When the committee finishes its work, staff will combine the Energy and Commerce legislation with those bills passed by the two other committees of jurisdiction. The bill is expected to be considered on the floor of the House later this month. Democrats are negotiating among themselves now to find a compromise between centrist “Blue Dogs” and progressives, both of which have the votes to kill a bill on the floor if they vote as a bloc.