House Ways and Means Committee Completes Mark-up of Reform Bill - July 23, 2009

In the wee hours of the morning on Friday, July 17 the House Ways and Means Committee completed its mark-up of the health reform bill and passed it out of committee with a final vote of 23-18. Three Blue Dog Democrats joined all of the Republicans on the committee in voting no. Committee leadership worked very hard to limit Democratic amendments. The only Democratic amendment was offered by Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) but was withdrawn without a vote. The amendment would have exempted teaching hospitals from all scheduled cuts in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement. While the amendment was withdrawn, more than half of the Democrats said they share Rep. Davis’ concerns about cuts to urban teaching hospitals, including DSH.  

During the mark-up, issues highest on the NAPH advocacy agenda received relatively little attention, though provider payment issues were a consistent theme of discussion. Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL) offered an amendment which would have set provider payment rates in the public plan option at the average of commercial plans available in the geographic area. The amendment was defeated 21-19, the closest vote of the mark-up.