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Bill offers some of the most significant changes to US health care system in history
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In a rare weekend vote, the House of Representatives passed the health care reform bill that was approved by the Senate in December, with voting falling on party lines.
The measure, expected to be signed into law as soon as Tuesday by President Barack Obama, offers some of the most significant changes to the U.S. health care system in history, extending insurance to approximately 32 million people who are currently uninsured, imposing penalties on individuals who do not carry insurance, expanding Medicaid services, cutting some aspects of Medicare, and eliminating the Medicare "doughnut hole," which currently suspends a recipient's compensation after plan expenditures reach a designated cap amount but then kicks in again when the individual reaches a second, higher benchmark through total out-of-pocket expenses.
A separate package passed by the House proposing changes to the earlier bill will now be sent back to the Senate for final approval. If passed, the second measure would tack an additional $65 billion in spending to the $875 billion health care reform bill.
However, White House officials have stated that the reform bill will lower the federal deficit by about $118 billion in the first decade, with the additional measures passed by the House reducing the deficit by an additional $25 billion. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the reform measure should further reduce the deficit by $1 trillion in the second decade.
In a statement regarding the changes, J. James Rohack, MD, president of the American Medical Association, called the vote an important step forward, but also said that Congress should continue to explore additional changes to the health care system.
"We will be relentless in our pursuit of permanent repeal of the Medicare physician payment formula, corrections to [Independent Payment Advisory Board], medical liability reform and other important actions," Dr. Rohack said.
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