Health Care Reform: Next Steps

The word from Washington D.C. is that the U.S. House and Senate will not go through a formal conference committee to merge the differences between their respective health care bills. U.S. House and Senate leaders have elected to host informal negotiations to draft a compromise bill and go through what is known as a "ping-pong" process. The health care bill will go to the floor of the U.S. House for a vote, where members could amend the Senate bill and send it back to the U.S. Senate for a vote. Democratic leaders are leaning towards this informal process over a conference committee in order to prevent Republicans from further delaying the bill with procedural maneuvers.

Given the margin by which the health care bill passed in the U.S. Senate, it is unlikely that the U.S. House will make drastic changes to the health care bill, and the final bill is more likely to resemble the version passed by the U.S. Senate. You can see a comparison of the two bills from the Kaiser Family Foundation here.

Today, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met with Chairmen George Miller (D-California), Henry Waxman (D-California), Charlie Rangel (D-New York), and Chairwoman Louise Slaugher (D-New York) to establish loose rules for the upcoming negotiations.

The final health care bill could reach the President's desk at the end of January or early February.

We are on the precipice of a historic accomplishment that will make a real difference in the lives of American families. While difficult work remains, the reality is that the two versions of reform legislation are vastly similar – built upon a shared foundation that will provide stability and security for Americans with insurance, affordable options for those without, and lower costs for families, businesses, and the government.

We must remain vigilant and supportive to ensure that health reform passes. We're in the 4th quarter and in need of a strong push to finish the game.

We will keep you updated with new developments.