Health Care Update

October 23, 2009

Senate negotiators have been meeting throughout this week, working to merge the legislation approved last week by the Finance Committee and the bill passed this summer by the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. With a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimate expected before the final bill comes to the floor, it appears that floor action will not occur next week, but perhaps in early November. On the other side of Capitol Hill, House leaders believe they have enough votes to pass a bill that includes a “public option.” CBO estimates earlier this week on three proposed House health care proposals came in at under $900 billion, fulfilling the deficit-neutral goal set by President Obama. The NAM continues to urge legislators on both sides of Capitol Hill to support policies that reduce costs for manufacturers and their employees while improving access to quality care.