Official Bill Info

• Latest Action: Oct 19, 2009 Introduced in Senate

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  I know the most recent action for this bill is as follows: "Introduced in Senate" on Oct 19, 2009
• Committee Assignment: Senate Finance

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  This bill has been assigned to the Senate Finance committee.

Bill Statistics on OpenCongress

Contribution Data

OpenCongress Bill Summary

• This is the official legislative version of the Baucus health care bill as amended and approved by the Senate Finance Committee during their mark-up session from September 22, 2009 to October 13, 2009. It's the most conservative of the five health care bills in Congress. Unlike the four other bills that have been approved by congressional committees, this bill does not contain a government-run public insurance option. It also contains fewer subsidies to help low and middle-income people buy insurance. The bill has been estimated by the Congressional Budget Office to increase federal spending by $829 billion over 10 years, but also produce enough savings and new revenue over the same time period to result in a net reduction in the federal budget deficit of $81 billion. Senate Democrat leaders and White House officials are currently in negotiations to reconcile this bill with the version that was approved by the Senate HELP Committee, S. 1679. For a chart detailing the major differences that are being ironed out by the negotiators between this bill and the HELP bill, click here.

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  Here's a summary from OpenCongress.org: This is the official legislative version of the Baucus health care bill as amended and approved by the Senate Finance Committee during their mark-up session from September 22, 2009 to October 13, 2009. It's the most conservative of the five health care bills in Congress. Unlike the four other bills that have been approved by congressional committees, this bill does not contain a government-run public insurance option. It also contains fewer subsidies to help low and middle-income people buy insurance. The bill has been estimated by the Congressional Budget Office to increase federal spending by $829 billion over 10 years, but also produce enough savings and new revenue over the same time period to result in a net reduction in the federal budget deficit of $81 billion. Senate Democrat leaders and White House officials are currently in negotiations to reconcile this bill with the version that was approved by the Senate HELP Committee, S. 1679. For a chart detailing the major differences that are being ironed out by the negotiators between this bill and the HELP bill, click here.

Most-commented sections of the bill text

• (a) Imposition of Fee- (3 comments, Link )

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  specifically, this section of the legislation: "(a) Imposition of Fee-",
• ‘(A) LIMITED AGE VARIATION PERMITTED- By age (within the standard age bands established under subsection (c)) so long as the ratio of the highest such premium to the lowest such premium does not exceed the ratio of 4 to 1. (1 comments, Link )

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  specifically, this section of the legislation: "‘(A) LIMITED AGE VARIATION PERMITTED- By age (within the standard age bands established under subsection (c)) so long as the ratio of the highest such premium to the lowest such premium does not exceed the ratio of 4 to 1.",
• ‘(d) Rule of Construction- Nothing in this section shall be construed to allow a health benefits plan to vary a premium rate on the basis of health status-related factors, gender, class of business, claims experience, or any other factor not described in subsection (b). (1 comments, Link )

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  specifically, this section of the legislation: "‘(d) Rule of Construction- Nothing in this section shall be construed to allow a health benefits plan to vary a premium rate on the basis of health status-related factors, gender, class of business, claims experience, or any other factor not described in subsection (b).",
• ‘(1) IN GENERAL- In the case of a health benefits plan offered in a rating area, the premium rate charged under the plan may vary only as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3). (1 comments, Link )

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  specifically, this section of the legislation: "‘(1) IN GENERAL- In the case of a health benefits plan offered in a rating area, the premium rate charged under the plan may vary only as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3).",
• ‘(A) IN GENERAL- The membership of MACPAC shall include individuals who have had direct experience as enrollees or parents or caregivers of enrollees in Medicaid or CHIP and individuals with national recognition for their expertise in Federal safety net health programs, health finance and economics, actuarial science, health plans and integrated delivery systems, reimbursement for health care, health information technology, and other providers of health services, public health, and other related fields, who provide a mix of different professions, broad geographic representation, and a balance between urban and rural representation. (1 comments, Link )

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  specifically, this section of the legislation: "‘(A) IN GENERAL- The membership of MACPAC shall include individuals who have had direct experience as enrollees or parents or caregivers of enrollees in Medicaid or CHIP and individuals with national recognition for their expertise in Federal safety net health programs, health finance and economics, actuarial science, health plans and integrated delivery systems, reimbursement for health care, health information technology, and other providers of health services, public health, and other related fields, who provide a mix of different professions, broad geographic representation, and a balance between urban and rural representation.",

Highest Rated User Comments

• On March 22, 2010, by Tylene - Illegal immigrants need to be sent back to where they come from--I am tried of paying for there expense --Send them all back --then maybe we actually can save some money and they do not need health care if there in our country illegally--they do not need a driver licenses if they Do not Have car insurance --and our country does not need to learn there language they need to be learing ours ENGLISH

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  As noted by Tylene, a user on OpenCongress.org, on March 22, 2010, "Illegal immigrants need to be sent back to where they come from--I am tried of paying for there expense --Send them all back --then maybe we actually can save some money and they do not need health care if there in our country illegally--they do not need a driver licenses if they Do not Have car insurance --and our country does not need to learn there language they need to be learing ours ENGLISH "
• On December 22, 2009, by cactusmitch - So called, "open," we have no text updates since mid-October. How can one know what their really negotiating. Reading the text and in fact releasing the text without updates is a tactic to befuddle the voters. Congress should be made to stay in town until the whole law is read out loud! Then the get to vote on it and take a break!

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  As noted by cactusmitch, a user on OpenCongress.org, on December 22, 2009, "So called, "open," we have no text updates since mid-October. How can one know what their really negotiating. Reading the text and in fact releasing the text without updates is a tactic to befuddle the voters. Congress should be made to stay in town until the whole law is read out loud! Then the get to vote on it and take a break!"
• On December 24, 2009, by cactusmitch - Where is the text of the bill that was "passed" this morning? Has anyone had a chance to read the changes to the October 20th. bill?

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  As noted by cactusmitch, a user on OpenCongress.org, on December 24, 2009, "Where is the text of the bill that was "passed" this morning? Has anyone had a chance to read the changes to the October 20th. bill? "

Highly Rated Blog Articles

• Ron Paul for President in 2012! | EX-SKF - January 04, 2011 by EX-SKF - ... Rolling Stones article (2); ron bloom (1); Ron Paul (26); Rudolf von Havenstein (1); Running on Empty (1); russia (7); Russian reaction to BP (1); S.1796 (1); SAIC (1); sallie mae (1); San Jose Mercury News (1); Sanofi-Pasteur (1) ...

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  As noted by EX-SKF on January 04, 2011, "... Rolling Stones article (2); ron bloom (1); Ron Paul (26); Rudolf von Havenstein (1); Running on Empty (1); russia (7); Russian reaction to BP (1); S.1796 (1); SAIC (1); sallie mae (1); San Jose Mercury News (1); Sanofi-Pasteur (1) ..." (http://ex-skf.blogspot.com/2011/01/ron-paul-for-president-in-2012.html)
• Healthy Families Act 2009 Status – More Authority | Latest New Stories - December 25, 2010 by Latest New Stories - Healthy Families Act 2009 Status - HSLDA | S. 1796--

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  As noted by Latest New Stories on December 25, 2010, "Healthy Families Act 2009 Status - HSLDA | S. 1796--" (http://latestnewstories.com/news/healthy-families-act-2009-status-more-authority-52419/)
• News That Disappeared Very Quickly from MSM | EX-SKF - December 22, 2010 by EX-SKF - ... Rolling Stones article (2); ron bloom (1); Ron Paul (25); Rudolf von Havenstein (1); Running on Empty (1); russia (7); Russian reaction to BP (1); S.1796 (1); SAIC (1); sallie mae (1); San Jose Mercury News (1); Sanofi-Pasteur (1) ...

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  As noted by EX-SKF on December 22, 2010, "... Rolling Stones article (2); ron bloom (1); Ron Paul (25); Rudolf von Havenstein (1); Running on Empty (1); russia (7); Russian reaction to BP (1); S.1796 (1); SAIC (1); sallie mae (1); San Jose Mercury News (1); Sanofi-Pasteur (1) ..." (http://ex-skf.blogspot.com/2010/12/news-that-disappeared-very-quickly-from.html)

Highly Rated News Articles

• Research and Markets: The U.S. Healthcare Reform: Impact on the Pharmaceutical Industry - July 11, 2010 by Trading Markets - ...Health Care for America Act; H.R.3200, Americas Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009; S.1679, Affordable Health Choices Act; S.1796, Americas Healthy Future Act of 2009; H.R.3590, Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act of 2009; H.R.3590, Patient Protec

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  As noted by Trading Markets on July 11, 2010, "...Health Care for America Act; H.R.3200, Americas Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009; S.1679, Affordable Health Choices Act; S.1796, Americas Healthy Future Act of 2009; H.R.3590, Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act of 2009; H.R.3590, Patient Protec" (http://www.tradingmarkets.com/news/press-release/ushcb_research-and-markets-the-u-s-healthcare-reform-impact-on-the-pharmaceutical-industry-1033839.html)
• Research and Markets: The U.S. Healthcare Reform: Impact on the Pharmaceutical Industry - July 11, 2010 by Business Wire - ...Health Care for America Act; H.R.3200, Americas Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009; S.1679, Affordable Health Choices Act; S.1796, Americas Healthy Future Act of 2009; H.R.3590, Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act of 2009; H.R.3590, Patient Protec

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  As noted by Business Wire on July 11, 2010, "...Health Care for America Act; H.R.3200, Americas Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009; S.1679, Affordable Health Choices Act; S.1796, Americas Healthy Future Act of 2009; H.R.3590, Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act of 2009; H.R.3590, Patient Protec" (http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100712005758/en)
• No free lunch - January 16, 2010 by Northwest Herald - It's health care reform bills HR3200 and S.1796 HR 3200 became grist for late-night comics mocking who had read or not read it. Some legislators even seemed ...

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  As noted by Northwest Herald on January 16, 2010, " It's health care reform bills HR3200 and S.1796 HR 3200 became grist for late-night comics mocking who had read or not read it. Some legislators even seemed ... " (http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2010/01/13/r_n6wr35xqt3ytloiz7zaoba/index.xml)