House Health Care Reform Bill

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Joy125

Posted Thursday, October 29, 2009 1:53 PM

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Last Login: Today @ 4:54 PM
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Below is a link to the text of the health reform bill released Oct. 29.

This is what will go to the House floor.

It is assembled from versions passed by three House committees.

http://docs.house.gov/rules/health/111_ahcaa.pdf

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I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition. MARTHA WASHINGTON

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Joy125

Posted Thursday, October 29, 2009 2:08 PM

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Last Login: Today @ 4:54 PM
Posts: 2,353, Visits: 4,113

EXCERPTS FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS ARTICLE:

New health care bill is 'historic moment'

By ERICA WERNER (AP)

October 29, 2009

" . . . the measure, once fully phased-in over several years, would extend coverage to 96 percent of Americans. Its principal mechanism for universal coverage is creation of a new government-regulated insurance "exchange" where private companies would sell policies in competition with the government. Federal subsidies would be available to millions of lower-income individuals and families to help them afford the policies, and to small businesses as an incentive to offer coverage to their workers.

Large firms would be required to cover workers, and most individuals would be required to carry insurance. . . .

. . . Senate Democrats, too, are hoping to pass legislation by year's end. Legislation outlined by Majority Leader Harry Reid earlier this week would include an option for a government-run plan, although states could drop out if they wished, a provision not in the House measure. . . .

. . . The legislation would be financed by a combination of cuts in planned Medicare spending and an income tax surcharge of 5.4 percent on individuals making at least $500,000 annually and couples making at least $1 million.

The bill would require nearly everyone by 2013 to sign up for health coverage either through their employer, a government program or the new exchange.

In the meantime, a temporary government program would help people turned down by private insurers because of medical problems, lawmakers said. After that, insurers no longer could refuse to provide coverage to the sick, nor could they charge more because of poor health of the insured.

The plan also calls for a significant expansion of Medicaid, the federal-state health program for low-income people. And it would impose a requirement on employers to offer insurance to their workers or face penalties. . .

. . . the bill would strip the health insurance industry of a long-standing exemption from antitrust laws covering market allocation, price fixing and bid rigging.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jlMpJGn28kqCcgU-aGcYE_ZHW-ywD9BKT8300

________________________________________________________________________

I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition. MARTHA WASHINGTON

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Grandpavan

Posted Friday, October 30, 2009 12:01 AM

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We are still a long way from a finished bill and even farther from having a way to pay for the grandiose plans. If they cut some fat from Medicare they need to use this to make Medicare actually affordable and not to create another unfunded government boondoggle. God bless.

Age 82, diagnosed RA 12/2001, married since 1952, 4 sons no daughters, 4 grandsons 1 granddaughter. Doing well on Methotrexate and Remicade.

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